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MANUFACTURINQ 



AND 



Mechanical Industries, 



OF 



WORCESTER. 



WRITTEN BY 

CHARLES O.Washburn, 

WORCESTER,' MASS. 



COPYnlOHT. 




[reprinted from the IIHToKV C)V WORCESTER COUNTY.] 

PUnLISIIKD HY J. W. MiWKS & CO., 
IMIII.ADliLl'HIA. 1889. 



MANUFACTURING AND MECHANICAL INDUSTRIES. 



Early Encmtrageniatt of Matmfacturea — Saw <ind Gri»t-MiH—The Silver- 
Miue— Potash— Timothy Bigehno — tkirly Miiiu/actitre of Ctolb—V<iper- 
Milt$— Character of Butiitew prior to 1820 — iVadea-pcopte Digco}ile}tted 
vrith theHeavy Tajct'B— Public Men appear in Home-made Cloth — Wor- 
cester Uouorable Society— The Pint tkliibilion of Uie fVorcester Agricul- 
tural Society. 

I am iudebted to the American Anliiiimrian Society for acceas to its 
TaliiaWo collection of books, ))aiii|ihlets, newspapere and manuscripts, 
and to Mr. Edmund BI. liartnn, tlio librarian, for many courtesies. I 
have drawn freely from tbe filea of the Spy and make the acknowledg- 
ment here to save frequent repetition in the text. 

C. G. \V. 

After the first settlement of Worcester had been 
broken up by the Indians in King Philip's War, a 
meeting of those interested was held at Cambridge, 
March 14, 1679, N.S., for the purpose of considering 
the expediency of again settling the town.' 

As a result of this meeting, it was resolved " to 
settle the said plantation some time the next summer 
come twelve months, which shall be in the year of 
our Lord 1680." 

The town was to be built to attain six ends, which 
were enumerated, chief among them " the better 
convenity of attending God's worship," and the 
" better education of their children ;'' but provision 
was also to be made " for tbe better accommodation of 
trades-people." 

Nothing of a practical kind was done looking to- 
ward the settlement until the General Court threat- 
ened to forfeit the grant unless the settlement were 
made; accordingly, an agreement was entered into 
April 24, 1684, with that end in view. It was voted 
that the plantation be divided into four hundred and 
eighty lots, three of these to be set apart for the 
maintenance of a saw-mill, and three for a grist-mill. 

To the builders and maintainers of works promot- 
ing useful trades, and for a lulliog-mill, when the 
place is capable thereof, six lots. 

The histories appear to agree that Captain John 
Wing built the first mills in Worcester, some time in 
1685, perhaps in the month of March ; he probably 
had both a saw and grist-mill located on the north of 
Lincoln Square, on Mill Brook, about where the 
Nashua freight depot is now situated. 

Captain Wing appears to have been a man of con- 
siderable consequence. He was a resident of Boston, 
one of the founders of the Old South Church, an offi- 
cer in the artillery company and kept the Castle 
Tavern. He was a member of the committee having 
charge of the plantation of Quinsigamond, and became 
a large landholder there, conducting his mill in Wor 
cester and his tavern in Boston at the same time. He 
died in 1702.' 

From 1686 till the fall of 1713 no records appear of 



t Lincoln, p. 33. 

1 " £urly Settlement of Worce6t«r," 



by Francis £. Bioko. 



the transactions which took place in the settlement, 
and during a great part of that time the country was 
exposed to the ravages of the Indians, and, in con- 
sequence, the town was almost entirely deserted. 

The third attempt to effect a permanent settlement 
was m.ide in October, 1713 ; the old saw-mill of Wing 
appears under the ownership of Thomas Palmer, 
Cornelius Waldo, of Boston, and John Oulton, of 
Marblehead. 

The next mill to be built was that of Obadiah 
Ward, which he devised to his son in his will dated 
December 16, 1717. It was near the upper canal- 
lock, present site of Crompton's Loom Works.' 

Elijah Chase built the fir.^t corn-mill, near where 
the Quinsigamond Paper-Mills were afterwards erected 
on the Blackstone River. The water privilege, with 
thirty acres of land at Quinsigamond, was granted by 
the town to Captain Nathaniel Jones, September 12, 
1717, upon condition that he should complete and 
maintain a grist-mill for twelve years. He built a 
dam and saw-mill in 1726, but both were probably 
swept away in the flood of 1728-29, and in 1732 the 
town took steps to recover the land by reason of the 
failure of Jones to comply with his contract.* The 
mills in Worcester at this early period were few in 
number and simple in character. Saw and grist-mills, 
with an occasional fulling-mill and trip-hammer shop, 
were to be found ; certainly the demands of two hun- 
dred people could not have been very great. 

In 1754, according to a description found in Lin- 
coln's " History,"* " a vein of metal, which was sup- 
posed to be silver, was discovered near the head of 
the valley, about a mile north of the town. A com- 
pany for exploring the spot was formed by some of 
the most substantial inhabitants, furnaces and smelt- 
ing-houses were erected and a cunning German em- 
ployed as superintendent. Under his direction a 
shaft was sunk eighty feet perpendicularly, and 
a horizontal gallery extended about as far through 
the rock, which was to be intersected by another 
shaft, commenced about six rods north of the first 
opening. 

"Among the masses which were, within a few years, 
laid around the scene of operations were specimens of 
the ores containing minute portions of silver, specks 
of copper and lead, much iron and an extraordinary 
quantity of arsenic; when struck against steel a pro- 
fusion of vivid sparks were thrown out, and a pecu- 
liarly disagreeable odor of the latter mineral emitted. 
On the application of heat this perfume increased to 

3 Lincoln. 

• " Early Paper-Mllls In Massachusetts," E. B. Crane, Proceedings 
Worcester Society of Antiquity for 1886. 
^ Lincoln, p. 204. 



WORCESTER 



an overpowering extent. The company expended 
great sums in blasting the rock», raiiting its fragments 
and erecting buildings and machinery. Wh>4e the 
pile of stone increased, the money of the partners 
diminished. The furnaci-s in full blast produced 
nothing but suffocating vapors, curling over the flames 
in those beautiful coronets of smoke which still at- 
tend the attempt to melt the ore. 

"The shrewd foreigner, in whose promises his asso- 
ciates seem to have placed that confidence which 
honest men often repose in the declarations of knaves, 
became .-satisfied that the crisis was approaching when 
it would be ascertained that the funds were exhausted 
and that stone and iron could not be tranbmuted to 
gold. Some papers which exist indicate that he pre- 
tended to knowledge in the occult sciences as well as 
skill in the art of deception ; however this may be, he 
assured the company that the great enemy of man 
had been busy in defeating their exertions, making 
hia presence redolent in the perfume of sulphur and 
arsenic. He obtained the sum of $100 and made a 
journey to Philadelphia to consult with a person ei- 
_)erienced in mines and their demons, for the purpose 
of exorcising the unsavory spirit of the crucible. He 
departed with a barrel full of the productions of the 
mine, but nevtr returned to state the results of his 
conference. 

"The proprietors abandoned the work when they 
were awaked by the reality of the loss from the 
dream of fortune, and afterwards destroyed the rec- 
ords of their credulity. 

"The spot is easily found. Follow the Nashua 
Railroad north on toot from its crossing on Mill 
Brook till you pa»s the two-mile post. The deserted 
shaft is alKiut twenty rods to the northeast of this 
spot. It is readily found, as a pile of slate and 
stones still lie where they were thrown out by the 
miners on a slight eminence in the meadow."' 

And yet the German superintendent may have 
been more superstitious than knavish. The mineral 
which baffled him, whose arsenical fumes almost 
suffocated his miners and confirmed his belief in the 
supernatural, w;is cobalt, a name derived from Greek 
Kobaiot, German Kobold, a little devil. German 
folk-lore is full of the diabolical pranks of the Ko- 
bold, and of pity for the unfortunate beings who suf- 
fered from the tortures which he inflicted to prevent 
incursions upon his subterranean ilwelling. 

Potash. — In 17G0 the manufacture of potash ap- 
pears to have been carried on quite extensively in 
and about Worcester; indeed, it was a thriving in- 
dustry throughout the country. Ky reason of its 
scarcity in Knglaml, Parliament remitted the duties in 
1751, and encouraged its importation from the colo- 
nies, where wooil was plentiful. Numerous pamphlets 
upon the desirability of this branch of manufacture 



■ Tho Kisrt of th* CommoowMlIb," DmiT 1 Huwiaod, ISM. 



to the colonies, and upon the best methods of making 
potash, were at this time published. 

Its manufacture was urged on the ground of af- 
fording the colonies an article of export with which 
to pay for the manufactures imported from Great 
liritain, and the North American plantations were 
thought to be well adapted to the manufacture of 
potash by reason of the abundance of wood suitable 
for the purpose. A writer upon this subject, in 1707, 
makes the following recommendations: 

It is Htipftoflcd tlint rach set ot works fitr carr>-lng on the maDiifacturo 
of jKitaati will have m mugp uf ten niilL>ii rouuil tur its supply, less tbun 
wliich would not tie lutllctent ; nnd I would beru, by tbe way, oiutton 
sucb who nuiy undorlako to ervct works for tills purpoM, that tbe place 
they tix upon lie at least twenty miles distant from any other works of 
the like kind, lest they only injure their enterprise by thus cutting off 
the pronlH'Ct of a sullicient supply of ashes. 

ICacb set of works under sucb advantuges of obtainiDg stock will, I 
presume, at tbo least, annually produce twenty tons of good potash, 
which, at the lowest nite it has ever been sold for, namely, £25, would 
amount to £500 sterling, and if twenty of these works were to be 
erected within tbo limits of the province of Miissachuimlts (which I 
think a moderate Dumber), there might be annually ex|>orted out of 
tbe province atone 41iO tons of |>otiuili, which, at tho liefore-meDtioDed 
low rate, would amount to £10,OUO sterling.^ 

The process of manufacture was simple, and con- 
sisted in treating wood-ashes with water until the 
potash contained in them was exhausted, and from 
the lye thus made a salt was obtained by evaporation. 
The woods chiefly employed in making potash were 
hickory, oak, beech, birch, elm, walnut, chestnut and 
maple. Woods like evergreen, or that abound in 
turpentine, were avoided. 

Worcester appears to have been well supplied with 
wood, and works for the manufacture of potash were 
established in difierent parts of the town. Pleasant 
Street was at one time known as Potash Hill. Lin- 
coln, in his history, says : " Works for making potash 
were first e-itablished in the north part of the town 
about 1760; buildings for similar purposes were 
placed on the west side of Lincoln Street, a little 
above the old Hancock Arms Tavern, by John Nazro, 
about ten years after; four more were established at 
• much later jieriods." 

I Peter Whitney, in his history, published in 1793, 
' says: "The first complete ton of potash was sent to 
market from the neighboring town of Ashburnham, 
where it was made at the time of the sotllenient in 
173.'>." In 1788 there were about two hundred and 
fifty potash works in Massachusstls. Governor Bow- 
doin, as a remedy for the distress then prevailing, had 
recommended in a message to the General Court, 
1785, that the farmers in towns where there was an 
abundance of wood to be cleared away, should devote 
themselves to the production of politsh and pearl-ash, 
and the ashes should be ilepositcd with llie State 
agent, who should sell them and use the money to pay 
the t-axes '■' <\-" ' " '"• br-.ughl them. 

• John !«:•-,. I . ■ - . .r... ." ii>s F.irollenry. Ttiomu Pownall, 

KM) , rapulii-ii> ral and ilovernorlii'iblrf In and ovar Ills M^wty'i 

proTluca of MasaacbDMtla Hay lu Naw Euclaod, 



MANUFACTURES. 



Isaiah Thomas, in 1793, advertised a book on tlie 
manufacture of pot and pearl-ash. 

It has seemed worth wliile to dwell at some length 
upon the manufacture of potash, as itso clearly shows 
the narrow resources of the provinces at that time, 
and the lack of any manufacturing iuterests beyond 
the simplest kinds designed to meet the wants of a 
scanty population. 

. Timothy Bigelow. — One of the earliest mechan- 
ics to attain prominence in Worcester was Timothy 
Bigelow, who, before the Revolution, had a black- 
smith's shop where the Court Mills afterwards stood, 
near the present junction of Union Street with Lin- 
coln Square. Of him a somewliat romantic story is 
told. 

There then stood on the site of the block of brick 
houses, opposite the court-houses, the residence of 
the orphan daughter of Samuel Andrews, then the 
principal heiress in Worcester. To quote from an 
old newspaper story : ' 

" In the rear of the Andrews home Tim Bigelow 
had a blacksmith's shop, where he blew the bellows, 
heated and hammered the iron, and shod the horses 
and oxen and mended the plows and chains lor the 
farmers of the country about him. Now Tim was as 
briglit as a button, more than six feet high, straight 
and handsome, and walked upoia the earth with a 
natural air and grace that was quite captivating. 
Now Tim saw Anna, and Anna saw Tim, and they 
were well satisfied with each other; but, as he was 
then ' nothing but Tim Bigelow, the blacksmith,' the 
lady's friends, whqse ward she was, would not give 
their consent to a marriage. So, watching an oppor- 
tunity, the lovers mounted fleet horses and rode a 
hundred miles, to Hampton, in New Hampshire, 
which lies on the coast, between Newburyport and 
Portsmouth, and was at that time the ' Gretna Green ' 
for all young men and maidens for whom true love 
did not run a smooth course in Massachusetts. 
They came back to Worcester as Mr. and Mrs. Tim- 
othy Bigelow. 

" He was a man of decided, talent, and well fitted 
by nature for a popular leader. All the leading men 
of the town at that time were Tories. He espoused 
the cause of the people, and soon had a party strong 
enough to control the town, and, being known as a 
patriot, he was recognized by Hancock, Samuel 
Adams, General Warren, James Otis and others of 
the patriot party throughout the Province. He was 
sent as a delegate from Worcester to the Provincial 
Congress, and, as captain of the minntc-men, he led 
his company from Worcester to Cambridge on the 
19th of April, 1775, at the summons of a messenger, 
who rode swiftly into town that day on a large white 
horse, announcing that war had begun. 

" Blacksmith Bigelow soon rose to the rank of ma- 
jor, and, afterwards, to that of colonel of the Fif- 



> " Ciirr«Tour lu Main Street." 



teenth Massachusetts Regiment, which was composed 
almost exclusively of Worcester County men. He 
was at the storming of Quebec, at the taking of 
Burgoyne, at the terrific scenes of Valley Forge 
and on almost every other field m.ade memorable by 
the fierce conflicts of the Revolution. 

" Wlien tlie war was over he returned home, his 
constitution shattered l)y hard service for his country, 
his health ruined, his fortune gone in consequence of 
the formidable depreciation of the currency, under 
which ibrty dollars was scarcely sufficient to pay for 
a pair of shoes." 

Ci-OTH. — In 1789 a few men formed an association 
for the purpose of manufacturing cloths, that had 
theretofore been imported from Great Britain, and in 
the Spy of April 30, 1789, the following notice is 
found : 

On Tuesday last tho first piece of corduroy made at a manufactory in 
this town was talcen from the loom ; and March 2.5, 1790, tlie proprie- 
tors of the Worcester Cotton Manufactory gave notice that they woTilil 
not take any more linen yarn for tlio present, liaving a suflicicut quan- 
tity on hand. 

May 27, 1790, Samuel Brazer .idvertises "goods of 
American manufacture to be sold at wholesale antl 
retail, corduroys, jeans, fustians, federal rib, and cot- 
ton, for cash only. The prices are reasonable, the 
quality of the goods superior to those imported, which 
will induce all to give preference to the manufactures 
of their own country." Later, we find : 

An Overseer wanted at the Cotton Manufactory at Worcester, also 
three or four liealthy boys aa apprentices ; two or three journeymen 
weavers at said manufactory. Apply, for further information, to Saml. 
Brazer or Daniel Waldo, Worcester. 

August 5, 1790, all persons who had demands 
against the proprietors of the Worcester Cotton Manu- 
factory were requested to present them to Samuel 
Brazer and Daniel Waldo, Jr., from which we con- 
clude tliat the enterprise had not prospered, and it is 
probable that upon the declaration of peace, goods 
could be obtained more cheaply from England than 
they could be manufactured here. 

This factory, containing crude machinery, stood 
upon Mill Brook, and was located in School Street, 
east of the present location of Union Street. 

When the manufacture of corduroys and fustians 
was abandoned, the factory was moved to Main Street, 
and was thereafter known as the Green store (present 
site of Parker block). Samuel Brazer was from 
Charlestown, where he was a baker, and in 1782 
engaged in the same business in Worcester; he 
appears to have been somewhat jealous of his good 
name, for in 1784 we find him refuting a slander in 
regard to the size of his bread. In October, 1785, he 
dealt in crockery and West India goods at the sign of 
The Old Maid, in the centre of the town. From this 
time on Mr. Brazer wasengaged in a variety of occupa- 
tions. 

Daniel Waldo, Jr., who was associated with Samuel 
Brazer in the manufacture of corduroys, was a son of 
Daniel Waldo, who moved to Worcester from Laocas- 



WORCESTER. 



5 



ter in 1782, and engaged in the hardware business 
near the bridge over Mill Brook at Lincoln Square. 

Papkr-Mills. — The niunuracture of jnipor took 
an early and prominent place among the industries of 
the Colonies. 

May 3, 1775, at a convention of delegates from 
vuwns in Worcester County, the following vote was 
passed : 

Bnolrtd, That the rrcctioii of s Pnpor-mill In thi« counly noiilJ bo 
or gmt public xlonlagr, and If any iwniuD or persona will iiiiili'nako 
the erectiud of inch a mill BiiiJ llio niaiiufHC(tin) of iMiper, lliat it be 
rrcvmiuenUod to tho jteoplo of Ibe county to oncoiirnKe tlie undertuking 
by gvncruiis contributions and subscriptions. 

In the /Spy of July 5, 1775, the following notice is 
found : 

Any pervott or persons that incline to set up that useful manufacture, 
the making of paper, may bear of one who will undertake to give dl- 
rvctlouA for building a mill, and will carry on Ibo buaineM in good shape 
with assistance. 

From the pamphlet on "Early Paper Mills in Mas- 
sachusetts,'' by Mr. E. 13. Crane, and part of the Pro- 
ceedings of the Worcester Society of Antiquity for 
1886, we learn that Mr. Abijah Burbank, of Sutton, 
was the first to respond to this resolution. 

Paper was evidently very scarce, for we find that 
for want of it but one-half of the Spy could be pub- 
lished October 30, 177G. This was no doubt due to 
the scarcity of rags, which evidently continued for 
some time, for on October 30, 1777, the following 
notice was published : 

Tlie paper-mills and, of consequence, Ibo printing ofUces in this coun- 
ty most inevitably stop unless the goo<I people nro mure cari-ful in pre- 
serving tbeir rags. The advanced price of :{</. per lb. for clean linen 
f«^ is now given by the printels, whtcb, together with tbo invaluable 
benefit which the public must derive from having a plentiful tiupply of 
|»per books, cannot fall of tho de«ired elTect. 

This difiiculty seems, Iiowever, to have been over- 
come, for in May, 1778, Mr. Burbank advertised,— 
"The manufacture of paper in Sutton is now carried 
on to great perfection." 

The business of Isaiah Thomas as printer and pub- 
lisher in Worcester had become of considerable con- 
sequence. The Rev. Peter Whitney staled that no 
person had added more to the consequence and ad- 
vantages of the town and county of Worcester than 
Isaiah Thotnas. The publishing of the Spij was only 
a part of his businesi). After the war, in 1788, he 
conducted a printing-oflice in Boston and in Wor- 
cester, and carried on a large business as printer, 
publisher, bookseller and bookbinder. 

Mr. Thomas lived on the site of the stone court- 
house, junt south of which his office was located. He 
employed in the various departments of bis business 
one hundred and fifty hands. 

To provide paper for his needs, Mr. Thomas, to 
quote from Mr. Crane's |ianiphU't, " presumiibly with 
the intention of erecting a paper-mill, on .lanuary 7, 
1785, purcha-sed of Kphraim .McKarland, for ninety 
pounda, the southerly half of a dam and water 
privilege located at what ik now known as (^uiiiitiga- 
moad village, and on thu northerly side of tho street, 



in front of the site now occupied by the Washburn & 
Moen Manufacturing Company's Mills. 

" Owing, perhaps, [lartly to the unsettled condition 
of the affairs of state, and to the impoverished plight 
of the country, the building of the mill was deferred, 
and November 9, 1787, he sold the property for eighty- 
five pounds to Dr. Elijah Di.\, from whom he again 
purchased it January 31, 1793, for one hundred 
pounds, and soon began the construction of a two-vat 
mill"; and, to again (luole from Mr. Crane, "This 
mill, built by Mr. Thomas, was supplied with two vats 
of about one hundred and ten lbs. capacity, and they 
ran usually fifteen hours each day, employing ten 
men and eleven girls. The main product of this mill 
was hand-made paper, and from twelve hundred to 
fourteen hundred lbs. were turned out weekly." As 
to price of labor : The skilled engineer received about 
three dollars per week, vat-men and coucher three and 
a half dollars each without board ; ordinary workmen 
and girls, seventy-five cents per week each ; boys, 
sixty cents each, and they were given board. 

It was here at this mill that Mr. Zenas Crane, a 
native of Dorchester, toiled at the trade of paper- 
making for several years previous to the summer of 
17'J9, when beset out from Worcester to establish, in 
company with Henry Wiswell and Daniel Gilbert, a 
paper-mill in the western portion of Massachusels, 
and succeeded so admirably in laying the foundations 
for a business that, through the careful and skillful 
management of Mr. Crane and his descendants, has 
assumed the mrst flattering proportions, .and whose 
trade-marks, known as "The Old Berkshire," " Old 
Red Mill," •' Pioneer Mill" and "Government Mill," 
stand for as good an article of paper as can be found in 
this country or perhaps any other. 

Mr. Thomas sold his paper-mill to Caleb and Elijah 
Burbank, of Sutton, February 24, 1708. This paper- 
mill was the second in the county and the eighth in 
the State. Another building was erected shortly 
after 1811, below the Thomas Mill, and used as a 
sickle-factory by Gardner Burbank, Elijah's son ; 
afterwards it was converted into a paper-mill. This 
building was located in what is now the scra|)-yardof 
the Washburn & Moen Manufacturing Ci>m|)any. 

In 1778 the principal articles, aside from food and 
the ruder kinds of cloth, were imported, and mostly 
from England. The resident of Worcester could 
find steel, bar iron, choice brandy, New England and 
West Indian rum, coffee, alum, brimstone, powder 
and shot at the store of Samuel & Stephen Salisbury, 
on the north side of Lincoln S(iuaro, just cast of the 
Salisbury mansion, where the depot now stands. 

Elisha Clark, at this time, followed the business of 
rojie-making about two miles from the meeting-house, 
on the road to Sutton. 

Clock and watch-work was done in a small way, 
but not of a very fine grade, if we may judge from the 
following dvHcription of ii watidi supposed to have 
been stolen : " A large old-fashioned watch with the 



MANUFACTURES. 



glass broken in three places and put together with 
putty." 

As a rule, shoemakers in the early days went from 
house to house, but in 1779 Nathan Heard appears 
to have established a small shoemaker's shop in Wor- 
cester. 

Daniel Waldo, to whom reference has been made, 
opened, in 1782, a store near the bridge over Mill 
Brook at Lincoln Square, where he ofl'ered for sale 
best Heart and Club German steel, bar iron, 4dy. and 
lOdy. nails, window-glass, Dutch looking-glasses, 
iron shovels, spades, saddlers' ware, and in general, 
an assortment of hardware and West India goodsi 
choice Bohea tea, etc. 

The firm of D. Waldo & Son, dissolved December 
31, 1791 ; Diniel Waldo, Jr., continued. 

In 1783, Abel Stowell manufactured clocks and 
watches in his shop south of the meeting-house, on 
the west corner of Park and Salem Streets. He 
made in 1800 the clock formerly in the Old South 
Church. The business of watch and clock-making 
appears to have been a considerable industry at this 
time. Benjamin Willard, of Grafton, who had an 
office with Isaiah Thomas, had .sold two hundred 
and fifty-three eight-day clocks up to 1784. 

The art of hat-making was early practiced in Wor- 
cester ; John Smith offered one shilling each for cat- 
skins in 1782, and in 1789 Nathan Blackburn adver- 
tises for an apprentice in the hat-making business. 

In 1789 Palmer & Daniel Goulding owned a tan- 
yard. -Mmost every town had a tan-yard, and leath- 
er of sufficiently good quality was made to serve the 
needs of the shoemakers and saddlers in the immedi- 
ate vicinity. 

Improvements in the simple conveniences for liv- 
ing were made from time to time, and in 1791 the 
a|)preciation of the necessity for a cheap and satisfac- 
tory artificial light is found in the construction of a 
new candle machine, — price, forty-five dollars, — with 
which it was claimed a boy could make three hun- 
dred and sixty rods of candles per day. 

Abraham Lincoln had a trip-hammer and grist- 
mill a few rods from the court-house, which he of- 
fered for sale in 1795. It must have been located on 
Mill Brook. The works are described as contaiiiing 
two pairs of bellows that go by water, a grindstone 
and mill all under one roof; "said works and grist-mill 
are as convenient and as well situated for custom as 
perhaps any in the Commonwealth." 

The desire for communication between the sea- 
board and Worcester appears to have been felt pre- 
vious to March, 1796, when some persons formedan as- 
sociation at Providence for making a canal to Wor- 
cester, and they were at that time invited to a confer- 
ence in Worcester at the tavern of Ephraim Mower. 
Later on, no doubt as a result of this meeting, a pros- 
pectus appeared setting forth the purpose of the Ca- 
nal Company, which was to issue four thousand 
shares of stock at one hundred dollars each, which 



it was estimated would cover the cost of building the 
canal. Subscriptions were solicited in Worcester ; 
William Paine (at Dr. Lincoln's store), Joseph Allen 
(at his office), Isaiah Thomas, Thomas Payson, Daniel 
Waldo, Jr., and Samuel Chandler were appointed to 
receive them. 

In October, 1796, a number of individuals peti- 
tioned the General Court for an act of incorporation 
for the purpose of cutting a canal from Great Pond 
in Worcester to Boston, but nothing was done at this 
time either with the Blackstone Canal or with the 
proposed canal to Boston. In 1822 surveys were 
made for the Blackstone Canal, which was afterwards 
put into successful operation, as appears later in the 
narrative. 

In 1798 Daniel Denny had a card-factory on Me- 
chanic Street near Main, opposite Mower's tavern 
(present site of Walker's building); later, he moved 
to Main Street, opposite present site of Bay State 
House. He, no doubt, bought his wire of Daniel 
Waldo, who imported it, and who, at this time, an- 
nounced " Sixteen casks of Wool and Cotton Card 
wire will be landed in a few days from the brigantine 
'Aidar,'just arrived from Amsterdam.'' 

Dutch plows, made in Connecticut, were at this 
time for sale at Denny's store. 

Cornelius Stowell, the clothier, had, in 1785, a shop 
on the east corner of Park and Orange Streets. 
Abel (the clock-maker), Peter and Ebenezer were his 
sons. The two latter he took into partnership with 
him about 17.90, when they began to manufacmre 
woolen good*, print calicoes, carpets, dye and dress 
woolen goods. They had two fulling-mills, and 
dyed fine scarlet and deep blue colors in the best 
manner. 

In 1804 Peter & Ebenezer Stowell commenced to 
weave fine carpets, and at one time had six looms of 
their own invention and construction in operation. 
They made the first carpets used in the State-house 
at Boston. July 19, 1809, a patent on wood screws 
was granted to Abel Stowell, and in January, 1816, 
he and his son were located on the Common, a few 
rods southwest of the Baptist meeting-house, where 
they conducted a miscellaneous business, dealing in 
stoves of cast and sheet iron, with their funnels, "as 
cheap as they can be purchased in Boston or any 
other place." Machinery of all kinds in bras? and 
iron, particularly such as are used in carding and 
other factories ; clocks for meeting-houses and printers' 
materials in iron and brass. Among his effects of- 
fered for sale by his administrators in May, 1819, 
was an undivided part of what is called the Black Lead 
Mine, consisting of two acres. This was, no doubt, 
what was later known as the Worcester Coal Mine. 
Black lead was procured here and ground into a 
paint, which was quite generally used. 

In January, 1808, Curtis & Goddard were busy 
I making chaises, and at this time appear to have 



moved frum opposite the jail to a building south of 



WORCESTER. 



the bunk. Samuel Nenhall had taken the noted 
Bland of John John.sun, where he intended carrying 
on the soaiiniaking business. Thomas Stevens, cabi- 
net-maker, states that he has purchased the right to 
make and sell two kinds of churns for several towns 
in the county. 

In May, ISIO, John Earle and Er:ismu3 Jones 
erected a wool-carding machine to pick, break and 
card wool at the building known as Lincoln's Trip- 
bauimer Shop, tifteen rods east of the court-house. 

At this time the number and variety of manufac- 
tures in Massachusetts appear to have increased con- 
siderably. Some idea of these, in 1810, may be had 
from a notice issued from the marshal's otlice in Boa- 
ton July 17th, asking for information in regard to the 
following industries : tanneries, distilleries, sugar re- 
fineries, breweries, paper-mills, oil-mills, snutl'-mills, 
chocolate-mills, gunpo>vder-mills, glass-works, fulling- 
mills, carding-machines (going by water), hemp and 
flax spiniiing-mills, cotton and wool-spinning mills, 
rope-walks, furnaces, air furnaces, forges, bloomeries, 
rolling and slitting-mills, cut-nail factories, trip- 
hammers and steel-furnaces. 

The sudden increase in the variety of manufactures 
may be attributed to the embargo, declared in Decem- 
ber, 1807, and to the complications then existing be- 
tween this country and France and England, which 
led to an almost complete stoppage of importations, 
and manufactories of cotton goods, woolen goods, 
iron, glass, pottery and other articles rapidly sprung 
into e.xisience. 

Previous to the embargo, according to Ilildreth," 
there were in the United States but fifteen cotton- 
mills with a total of eight thousand spindles. By the 
end of 1809 eighty-seven mills were built, of which 
si-xty-two were in operation — forty-eight by water 
and fourteen by horie-power — working thirty-one 
thousand spindles, and many more were in process of 
erection. 

Most of the saws used in Worcester in 1810 doubt- 
less came from the works of Elijah Waters & Co., at 
Sutton, who kept on hand steel-plate and saw-mill 
saws of various sizes. 

One of the earliest machine-shops in Worcester was 
that of Earle & Williams, in 1812, opposite the court- 
house, where they carried on the business of machine- 
making, and advertised for sale machinery for spin- 
ning cotton and wool, carding-machines, and brass 
castings. Their shop was destroyed hy fire January 
5, 18ir.. 

In April, 1813, the attention of shoe and boot- 
makers is called to a new and useful improvement, 
secured hy patent, for putting shoes and boots to- 
gether with copper nails, without any sewing. The 
patentee announces that he will attend at Captain 
Mower's tavern in Worcester (the site now occnpicd 

I Richard Ulldnth't " tlUlorr of tb* Uollwl BUM," Vol. III., p. 
211). 



by Walker's building) from the 12th to the 20lh in- 
stant, for the purpose of selling patent right, and 
claims that the invention "has been proved to an- 
swer every purpose for beauty, ease and conven- 
ience, and vastly more durable, at a saving of about 
half the work, and remedies all the evils attending 
iron nails and wooden pegs.'' 

In April, 1815, the Worcester Tannery is offered 
for siile. It is described as situated in the centre of 
the town, and is one of the most extensive and con- 
venient establishments in the State, in fierfect repair, 
and with all the accommodations and necessary tools 
for carrying on the business. 

"Through the middle of the yard runs a large 

brook, confined by a very handsome stone wall. A 

j few rods from the tan-yard is a building in which 

] bark is ground by water, and in which there is a 

patent bark-mill, strong and well-constructed."' 

This is the tannery formerly referred to as owned 
by Samuel Johnson, and was located east of the 
present site of E.xchange Hotel. 

Some reason for the sale of the tannery may be 
found in the heavy ta.xes upon leather. The other 
tanneries in different parts of the county appear to 
have suH'ercd, for no less than nine are offered for sale 
during 1816 and 1817. 

The discontent of the workers and makers of 
leather, and others, finds expression in the following 
notice, which appeared May 31, 1810 : 

Sho«ninkvri ahoy ! ITare you been at thu Collector's and glvan 
bonds, with two milTlcient sureties, to pay duty upon your work? 

If you mnko a Binf;le boot or shoo abovu 96 vutuo wltliout' Rivlnic 
bonds to secure the duty to Govemnieut, you do it at your peril, and arc 
Bubject to a penalty of not Icbb than 9600 I 

What la your iltuatlon better than that of Yirfflnia neftroei? Tou 

must account for orery pair of boota yoo make to the Collector. You 

ntuRt tell how much you ask for them, whom you niake tliwni for, and 

huw muny pair you iniike ; and, to crown the whole, all this must b« 

d.pne undT oath. No, that does not crown the whole ; one thing more, 

! whenever n custonrer breaks, or runsaway, or cheats you. In addition to 

I tba lom of the article itself, and the lulwr, you niust pay the duty upon 

I it to the (lovernment I This Is the crowning, the ca|Hibeaf. 

Silvomndths, cnr[>enter^, jobtieni, hatlon, tailors, tobacconUts, boat- 
builflcra, tin-men, blacksndlbs, and ye mechanics and manufacturers of 
I all articles and commodities uf whatever name and nature, bt* ye also 
I ready. A line of SOOt) awaits yuu unless yuu comply with the provisions 
, of thess arbltniry, ini(|ulI<MiN laws [lassed by Congress the Itjth and ::7th 
' February, 1810. 

I In May, 181.">, Earle & Williams give notice that in 

; addition to machinery for carding wool, they will 

have in operation, about the Ist of July, machinery 

for the spinning of wool, which can be spun at a rate 

greatly below the price of hand-spun. They aNo give 

notice, June 21st, that, in connection with Asa Mann, 

they have in operation, near Stone's tavern, south 

I part of Leicester, machinery for carding wool. 

' Joshua Hale, at the same time, states that he has 

, put his machines for carding wool and spinning cotton 

in most excellent order, and attends them himself; 

I alst» that he has fur sale cotton yarn made of cotton 

selected by himself in Savannah, which he warrants 

to be the be.it. 



8 



MANUFACTURES. 



In September, 1815, Thomas & AVilliam Stowell 
advertise that they have improved the building lately 
occupied for a wire-factory, one and a half miles south 
of the meeting-house, where they have put their 
works in the best order for dressing cloth, and are in 
readiness to meet any demands in their business. 

It may be interesting to note, in passing, that at 
this time the postage to Boston, on single letters, was 
fifteen cents. 

John W. Lincoln, in January, 1816, advertises all 
sizes of nail-plates from the Millbury RoUing-Mill 
Company. This company was established in the latter 
part of December, 1815, for the purpose of manufactur- 
ing nail-plates and rods. 

William Hovey, June, 1816, advertises a double 
carding-machine in operation for custom work at his 
factory, one mile south of the meeting-house in 
Worcester, where merino wool is carded in the best 
manner. 

October 2d he gives notice that he has taken George 
March into company with him, and that at Hovey's 
mill they will manufacture wool into cloth ; price for 
spinning wool, three cents per skein. 

At this time considerable interest was manifested 
throughout the country in manufactures, and frequent 
meetings were held for the purpose of devising means 
for their encouragement. A committee of the Legis- 
lature in New York urged that members of Congress 
be instructed to attempt to have the duties on woolen 
and cotton increased ; urged the public officers to 
clothe themselves in American cloth, and that manu- 
factures be e.xempt from taxation, and manufacturers 
from serving in the militia, and from other public 
duties. 

It appears to have been quite popular at this time 
for American statesmen to appear in clothes of 
American manufivcture. It is said that Henry Clay, 
when once in Millbury, was presented with a roll of 
blue broadcloth, the product of the mill of Colonel 
Sheppard, and Mr. Clay remarked that his ne.xt suit 
of clothes would show Congress what American manu- 
facturers could do. 

Daniel Web.ster also had a suit of clothes made for 
his use in Washington from cloth made by the Goodell 
Manufacturing Company, at Millbury, woven, very 
likely, upon looms made by W. H. Howard, of Wor- 
cester. 

The following notice appears in the Spy of Octo- 
ber 22, 1817:— 

The Ilenilicrs of tho Worcester Honorable Society, being prisoners for 
debt on iiarole, ami ileiirivod of tho moans of supporting tbeniselvea in 
prison, or tlieir families at home, or of paying their debts, and unwill- 
ing their time and talents should bo lost to thomsolves or to the public, 
h«reby give information to their creditors and tho good jreople of this 
\icinity tliat there are in tho society those who can perform the bus- 
iness of farming, shoemaking, masons, clock and watch repairing, card 
making, mathematical and meteorological instrnmcnt making, painting 
and glazing, engraving, distilling, rope making, etc., and solicit a sharo 
of their patronage in tho above-named kinds of business, which they 
can perform within the limits ; and they engage they will promptly 
and faithfully attend to all busiuosa entrusted to them. 

WoKostcr Gaol, Oct. 22, 1817. 



This is interesting, as indicating the variety of 
small manufactures carried on in and about Worces- 
ter at this time, and as illustrating the unfortunate 
working of the law then in force, which deprived 
many worthy men of any opportunity of escaping 
from their misfortunes. 

In October, 1819, the Worcester Agricultural So- 
ciety gave its first exhibition. Among the Worcester 
exhibits of domestic manufactures were two pieces 
of kerseymere and one calf-skin, tanned and curried 
in two days by Reuben Wheeler. 

Nine skeins of tow yarn, from thirty-three to thirty- 
eight skeins to the pound, spun on a great wheel by 
a lady in Worcester. 

The judges noted with regret that no hoes, scythes, 
plows, wool, cotton and machine-cards were exhibited 
in a county which had long been distinguished for 
the manufacture of these articles, and, in their 
opinion, no cotton cloth sufficiently good wag offered 
to be entitled to a premium. 



CHAPTER II. 

MANUFACTURINO AND MECHANICAL INDUSTRIES. 

Streamt and Mill PrmiUges— Population of Worcester — Blaclcst^ne Canal — 
The liuilroada -The Firtt Expressee — The Old Coal Mine — Peat — 
Stage Linen. 

The introduction of steam-power, the opening of 
the Blackstone Canal and the railroads, have made it 
possible for a large manufacturing city to grow where 
otherwise no considerable progress could have been 
made; for had it been necessary to depend altogether 
upon water-power, few large factories could have been 
located upon the small streams which constitute the 
head-waters of the Blackstone. 

These streams, nevertheless, have played a most 
important part, affording means for starting manufac- 
tories which have since so largely developed in size 
and variety ; while the increased demand for power 
has been met by the introduction of steam-engines, 
through whose medium the waters which formerly were 
directly applied to the water-wheels, and whose capa- 
city was consequently limited, are now equal to any 
demands which may be made upon them. For these 
reasons the water privileges and streams deserve 
prominent mention in any account of the manufac- 
turing industries of Worcester. 

The Ramshorn stream, so called, rises in Ramshorn 
Pond, which lies two-thirds in Millbury and one-third 
in Sutton ; it flows in a northerly direction and is 
joined by Kettle Brook in the northeasterly part of 
Auburn. 

Kettle Brook rises in Paxton, is fed by Lynde and 

Parsons Brooks, flows in a southerly direction and 

joins the Ramshorn stream, as above stated ; the 

' united streams, known as French River, flow in a 



WORCESTER. 



northeasterly direction. At New Worcester, Tatnuck 
and Bcax'er or Turkey Brooks unite with French. 
River, and the course becomes a little south of cast. 
At this point the stream is known us Middle River for 
about a mile; Mill Brook then joins it, and from this 
point the river is known as the Blackstone. 

Ram^horn Pond is owned by the manufacturers on 
the Bhickstone River, who are assessed for all expenses 
and repairs. The pond and stream have a water-shed 
of nine thousand two hundred and fifty-live acres. 
There are five privileges on this .stream, previous to 
its entering the town of Auburn, the third privilege 
being that occupied by the old shjp of Thomas 
Blancbard, where the eccentric lathe was invented by 
him, and is of considerable historic interest. The 
sixth privilege, which is in Auburn, is known as' 
Larned's village or Pondville. There was a saw-mill 
here as early as 1794; later a mill was built for the 
manufacture of wuolen goods, which has since been 
used for worsteds. Pond & Lamed formerly owned 
this privilege, which is now occupied by Kirk, Hut- 
chins & Stoddard. 

The seventh privilege has long been known as 
Dunn's Mills; here saw, grist and shingle-mills have 
been located at ditferent times; plow handles, proba- 
bly for Ruggles, Nourse & Mason, were at one time 
made here. The old mills were burned some time 
ago, and the privilege is now used for a shoddy- 
mill. 

A mile beyond. Kettle Brook and Ramshorn stream 
unite, not far from the French meadows, on the left 
of the Norwich and Worcester Railroad coming from 
Auburn to Worcester. 

Kettle Brook Hows from a reservoir in Paxton, 
which was built and is owned by the mill-owners 
along the stream. 

The first privilege is an old saw-mill, but little used 
and 8<jmewhat dilapidated, owned by the town of 
Leicester. The second privilege down the stream is 
what was known formerly as Mulberry Grove (now 
Mannville), and is at present utilized for the manu- 
facture of satinets by the Mann Brothers. 

The third privilege is what is known as. Kent's, 
built by the father of >fr. P. (r. Kent, of .lamcsville, 
who first built a saw-mill, then changed it to a 
■hoddy-mill, then into a satinet-mill, which is now 
run by P. G. Kent & Brother. 

The fourth privilege is Itottomly's brick mill, built 
by him, and known as his third mill. It in now 
owned and occujicd by li. I). Thayor, and uiili/.ed 
for the manufacture of satinets. \ 

The fifth privilege is the Chapel Mill, built by Mr. 
Dickinson, now uned for satinets. | 

The sixth privilege is called the Kli Collier Mill, i 
This was also built by Mr. nickinxon, and is run on 
satinets. i 

The seventh privilege was the Watson Mill, u«c<l 
for the manufacture of broadcloth. It was burned 
some time ago, and has never been rebuilt. ' 



The eighth privilege is the old mill built by 
Thomas Bottom ly, an Englishman. This was one of 
the first mills built in this region, and is said to have 
been built before any of the mills on the stream. 
Mr. Bottomly was one of the j>ioneers in the broad- 
cloth business, which he conducted at this mill for 
many years. It has been remodeled, and is now 
owned and run by George W, OIney. Mr. Uodges 
was Mr. Olney's predeces.sor. 

The ninth privilege is one on which a mill was 
built by Thomas Bottomly for the manufacture of 
broadcloth, and was known as his " second mill." 

Lynde Brook empties into Bottonily's Pond, and a 
short distance up this stream is the Worcester Res- 
ervoir. This mill hag passed through several bands, 
and is now owned and occupied by Albert E. Smith, 
who makes woolen goods. 

The tenth privilege was occupied by Robert Young 
for a saw-mill, which was afterwards changed into a 
satinet-mill and was washed away in the Lynde 
Brook disaster ; it was then merged in the Ashworlh 
& Jones privilege. 

The eleventh privilege was formerly occupied by 
a grist-mill, built by a Mr. .Vdanis, who sold it to 
Wadsworth & Fowler. The grist-mill was torn down 
and replaced by a satinet-mill, which, after some 
time, was sold to Ashworth & Jones, who erected 
there a handsome mill, one hundred and seventy by 
fifty feet, four stories high, which was run on beaver 
cloth. In 188G it was purcha.sed by Mr. E. D. 
Thayer, Jr., who carries on a large business in the 
manufacture of woolen goods. 

The twelfth privilege was originally occupied by a 
shingle-mill, then by a paper-mill, which was 
changed into a satinet-mill ; it then passed into the 
possession of Ashworth i*i Jones, who connected it 
with the privilege next above. 

The thirteenth privilege is known as Darling's, 
and was first occupied by Solomon Parsons. It then 
passed into the hands of Mr. Darling. Satinets have 
always been made here. 

The fourteenth mill is known as Hunt's. This 
was also built by Solomon Parsons, and sold to Bel- 
lows & Darling. Cotton batting was first made here, 
and then satinets. It is now run by u Mr. iiutler in 
the manufacture of satinets. 

The fifteenth is the Jamesville privilege, which 
Benjamin James bought of the heirs of the Bnnit'tt 
estate. It was originally a saw-mill in the woods. 
Mr. James bought soon after IK.'iii and built the fac- 
tory, which he ran on hosiery till about 1860; he 
then changed to army cloth, and after that to fancy 
cassimeres. It was run up to the time of Lynde 
Brook disaster, when the dam was destroyed, the 
water plowing twenty feet beneath the dam. The 
mill was rebuilt ami ran on cansinieres till about 
INKO. It ponsod through several hands, and finally 
came into the possession of P. O. Kent & Co., who 
enlarged the mill and now make sntincls. There is 



10 



MANUFACTUEES. 



quite a village at this point, a chapel and depot. 
One hundred and ten hands are employed in the 
mill. 

The sixteenth privilege is occupied by the Stone- 
ville Mill. 

The waters of Kettle Brook come into the Stone- 
ville Pond at the end nearest New Worcester ; at the 
other end a stream comes in which has been known 
as Young's Brook, and by other names. About a 
mile up this stream was an old paper-mill, erected 
about 1834 by Nathaniel S. Clark and Daniel Hey- 
wood. Kettle Brook with this stream carries the 
Stoneville Mill, now operated by the Stoneville 
Worsted Company in the manufacture of yarn for 
the carpet-mill of William J. Hogg. 

In 1834 Jeremy Stone owned this mill ; it then 
went into the possession of Edward Denny, next of 
A. L. Ackley, and later was changed from woolen to 
cotton goods. 

John Smith bought the mill about 1858, and it was 
subsequently run by his sons — C. W. & J. E. Smith 
— for many years. About a mile from this point 
Mill Brook joins the Ramshorn stream, and thence 
proceeds through the French Meadows, and is known 
as the French River. 

At the next privilege Mr. Trowbridge, grandfather 
of William T. Merrifield, built, in 1810, a mill for the 
manufacture of cotton yarns. There had previously 
been a saw-mill, and possibly a grist-mill at this 
point. At this time Joshua Hale was carding wool 
at the privilege now occupied by Albert Curtis, and 
the farmers were in the habit of taking their wool to 
Mr. Hale to have it carded and spun, and bought 
their yarn at Trowbridgeville, doing the weaving at 
their own liomes. 

Tatnuck Brook has a water-shed of eight thousand 
nine hundred and forty-three acres. Upon an old 
map, published in 1784, a trip hammer-mill, a corn- 
mill and a saw-mill are found upon Tatnuck Brook^ 
within the limits of the town of Worcester. The 
first mill recollected by those now living is a saw- 
mill in Holden, owned by a man named Hall; this 
was prior to 1850. The second privilege was near 
the outlet of the present reservoir, where there was 
another saw-mill. 

The third privilege was at Tatnuck. The fourth 
privilege was the old mill built in 1834 for David 
T. Brigham, in Tatnuck, near the bridge on the road 
to New Worcester ; it is now used for making sat- 
inets. It was built by AVilliam T. Merrifield in 
1834. The fifth privilege was Patch's saw and grist- 
mills. 

The sixth privilege was a small mill, and the 
seventh, the upper privilege now occupied by the 
Goes Manufacturing Company. This and the lower 
privilege on Leicester Street are more particularly 
described in that part of this article which treats of 
the wrench business. 

Tatnuck Brook was kaowu at one time as Half- 



Way River, as the bridge at New Worcester was half- 
way from Boston to Springfield. On its tributary, 
Turkey or Beaver Brook, a saw mill was located in 
1784. 

At the junction of Tatnuck Brook and Ramshorn 
Brook was the old original dam which was removed 
by Mr. Albert Curtis about 1845. 

The privilege now occupied by factories of Albert 
Curtis and Curtis & Marble is described elsewhere. 

Next to this privilege is the one occupied by the 
Hopeville Manufacturing Company, manufacturers 
of satinets. This was occupied by Thomas Sutton in 
1831, where he put in the fiist iron water-wheel in the 
county. Sutton's original mill was burned in 1862. 
About 1848 there was a cotton-mill here run by S. H. 
Thayer. This was formerly known as Hornville, so 
called because, when the first mill was built, there 
was no bell, and the help were called to work with a 
horn. 

The first mill located here was a grist-mill. Bige- 
low & Barber bought the privilege in 1858. 

Next come the carpet-mills, once the location of 
White & Boyden's machine-shop, where Mr. Albert 
Curtis learned his trade. Hatch & Gunn here com- 
menced the manufacture of broadcloth in 1827 ; they 
were the first in Worcester to make woolen goods 
throughout. Then comes the Wicks Manufacturing 
Company, who recently commenced the manufacture 
of worsted suitings. 

The next privilege is the one now occupied by the 
Worcester Wire Company, which has been used as a 
manufacturing site for many years and for many dif- 
ferent purposes. 

Upon the map previously referred to published in 
1784, North Pond is said to cover thirty acres of ground. 
John Pierce's map, 1795, gives the area of North 
Pond forty acres, and says that in that year there 
were in Worcester five grist-mills, six saw-mills, one 
paper-mill. Near where Mill Brook leaves North Pond 
there were situated, in 1784, two fulling-mills; just 
southeast of the court-house was a trip-hammer shop. 
Between the two and just north of Lincoln Square the 
old miU of Captain Wing was located in 1685. Then 
a grist-mill, probably on the site of the Crompton 
Loom- Works, and a saw-mill was located at Quinsiga- 
mond, with the statement that "there is soon to be a 
paper-mill." 

Mill Brook has a watershed of .seventy seven hun- 
dred and fifty acres. The first privilege below North 
Pond Dam was occupied by a cottou-mill built by 
George T. Rice and Horace Chenery, about 1830. 

The second was a factory built by Frederick W. 
Paine for Washburn & Goddard, and occupied by 
them until 1834; then by Goddard & Parkhurst until 
1838, when it was leased for a short time by Ichabod 
Washburn, and was later occupied by William Cromp- 
ton until it was burned in February, 1844. 

The third privilege was the old tannery privilege, 
originally built by Dr. William Paine, father of F. W. 



WOHCKSTER. 



11 



Paine, for a grist-mill, which was run Ii_v the family 
Air many years. 

About lS3t) N. Eaton & Co. had a paper-mill here. 
The Olivers, stove dealers, next used the privilejie to 
j,'rind blaek lead. In the fall of 18")4 .Mr. Samuel 
Warren purchased the property of Mrs. (Oliver, and 
ran it lus a tannery until 1SS5. Mr. Warren's ances- 
tors on both sides for three generations were tanners. 
His main business was to supply the cardniakers with 
their leather. This water privilege has recently been 
purcha.-icd by Stephen Salisbury. 

The fiurth privilege is tirove Mill, wlu-ie the late 
Mr. Stephen Salisbury built a wire-mill for Ichabod 
Washburn in 1S34. 

The (ifth, Court Mills privilege. Abraham Lincoln 
had a trip-hammer shop here in 17'.K>; Eiirle & Wil- 
liams a machine shop in 1812, and a bark-mill wa'< 
probably run in connection with the old tannery lo- 
cated just back of Exchange Hotel in 1815. 

Before I'ourt Mill was burned there was an old 
one-story building located here, used in 1828 by 
William Hovey for the manulacture of shears and 
•^traw-cutters. The basement of the new Court 
Mills wiis built of the stones which came from the 
old jail, which stood on the sipiare facing the present 
depot. 

Howard & Dinsmore took the tirst lease of the 
Court Mill.*, and were succeeded by Mr. Saiiuiel Da- 
vis. 

The si.xth privilege was built by F. W. I'ainc, at 
the corner of School and Union Streets. It was oc- 
cupied at first by a small wooden building, thirty by 
eighteen, two stories high ; the basement was occupied 
Viy W. H. Howard, lead pipe manufacturer; the sec- 
ond story by Calvin Darby, who ran a carding-ma- 
chine. Mr. Howard was bought out by Ichabod 
Washburn in 1J^22, and January 1, 1S23, .Mr. Wash- 
liurn and Benjamin Goddard formed a partnership, 
and at the same time bought out Calvin Darby. 
They manufactured woolen machinery here until 
their removal to Northville, in is.Sl. March, Holiarl 
A Co. succeedeil them. The premises have been 
occupied by various parties from 1822 till the present 
lime in the mahufaiture of woolen machinery, N. 
A. I»mbard & Co. being the present owners. 

The seventh privilege was called Eliigg Mills, af- 
terwanl/ known as the Red Mills, ami owned bv 
William B. Fox. 

The Red Mills were occui>ied by s.-ish and blind 
and cutlery manufacturers, while from the same 
jirivilegc was obtained power which ran the woolen- 
mill of Fox fi. Rice, on the other side of the iitreet. 
This privilege was sold, and the site became part of 
the sewerage system in the mayoralty f»f .lamcw B. 
Bhike. 

The eighth privilege was occupied by the U[)per 
and lower paper-mills at C^uinsigainond, lat<'r and at 
present by the works of Washburn & Moen Manu- 
facturing Company. 



The ninth and last privilege in Worcester was oc- 
cupied by the I'crry (irist-Mills, which were built in 
1S:U. 

Mill Rrciok Inis played an important part in the 
development of the manulacturing interests of Wor- 
cester, and three distinct privileges on this stream 
have been occupied by wire factories, while the first 
ex|)eriment8 of Ichabo'l Washburn were conducted at 
the present location of the Lombard Factory, on 
School Street. The firot wire-mill was located at 
Northville, and later was moveil down the stream to 
the (irove Mill jirivilegc, and later still the (.^uin- 
sigamond privilege was used for this business. Mill 
Brook is now condemned to the main sewer shortly 
after it leaves the works of Washburn & Moen 
M;inufacturiiig Company, in trrove Street, from 
which it emerges into the Blackslone, just below the 
works at (juinsigamou'l. 

It was not until 1820 that Worcester took first rank 
among the towns of the county. The census of 1765- 
7(3 gave Worcester the fifth place in population, 
following Sutton, Lancaster, Mendon and Brookfield. 
In 17!Mi, 1800 and 1810 Worcester stood third in order, 
Hrooktield and Sutton preceding. 

In 1820 Worcester look first place, and from that 
time to the present has shown a constantly-increasing 
percentage of the population in the county. That 
percentage amounted to something over eleven per 
cent, for the decade ending 18:iO, and over fifty per 
cent, for the decade en<ling 1.S80 ; while o( the increa.se 
(17,142)in the population of the county between 1880 
and 1880, 10,098, or nearly fifty-nine per cent., be- 
longs to the city of Worcester; and of the population 
of the county, which wiis 244,039 in 188'), Worcester 
had t)8,389, or a little over twenty-eight per cent. In 
1820 the population of Worcester was 2,9(!2, and of 
the county 73,1)2"). 

This brings us to the time of the building of the 
Blackstone Canal between Worcester and I'rovidence, 
which marks an important epoch in the progress of 
Worcester, and too much credit cannot be given its 
projectors for appreciating the necessity to Worcester 
of comniiinicaiion with the seaboard. It is true that 
the canal was never of great practical value, by rea- 
son of the belter facilities tor business atlbriled by the 
railroads. It is equally true that without the rail- 
roails the caiuil would have ensured the growth and 
prosperity of the town. 

The plan of making a navigable water-way from 
i'rovidence to Worcester was first suggested, in I79l>, 
by Mr. .lohn Brown, of I'rovidence, and his associates, 
but the Legislature of Massachusetts, failing to assent 
to an act of incorporation, it was not then carried into 
execution. 

In May, 1822, "(lentlemen who are friendly to the 
project of a canal from Woncsler to I'rovidence are 
re<|ucsted to meet at t'olonel Sikes' Collee-hoiise on 
Friday evening, at seven o'clock." Another meeting 
was held on May 24th, and a cimimittee appointed. 



12 



MANUFACTURES. 



upon which the following gentlemen served : Levi 
Lincoln, John Davis, John W. Lincoln, William E. 
Green, John Milton Earle, Edward D. Bangs. 

In September, 1822, the surveys of the canal were 
completed. According to the report of the committee, 
the length of the canal would be forty-five miles and 
the descent from Thomas Street to tide-water in 
Providence 451 i feet. 

The ground was bored every twelve rods for the 
whole distance, and upon the route selected no rock 
was found within the depth of excavation. The en- 
gineer reported, " 1 have come to the conclusion that 
a canal 32 feet wide at the to|), 18 feet at the bottom 
and 3i feet depth of water, would be a projier size to 
be formed, and that locks of 70 feet between the gates 
and 10 feet in width would be sufficiently large for 
the trade intended." 

The estimated expense of the work, including locks, 
was $323,319. 

The excavation in Rhode Island was commenced 
in 1824, and a meeting of the Blackstone Canal 
Company was called at the Thomas Coffee-House, 
Worcester, April 9, 1825, for the purpose of forming 
a corporation. 

Great expectations were formed of the amount of 
business that would be done, and it was claimed 
that the canal would more than double the value of 
real estate within six miles of it. The subscription 
books for $400,000 of the capital stock, were opened 
in Providence, April 27th ; three times the re(|uired 
amount was subscribed for, and the stock sold at a 
premium. 

In May, 1826, the canal was locateil in the village 
of Worcester. 

Fears were entertained in Boston at this time that 
the canal would divert trade from Boston to Provi- 
dence ; to counteract this, a plan for a railway be- 
tween Worcester and Boston was proposed. It is 
related that a wag, happening to be in town when 
the account of the sale of canal stock was received, 
was asked what the Boston folks would do when they 
heard of that. "Oh," replied he, "they will rail 
a-way ! " 

The first canal-boat to arrive in Worcester was the 
" Lady Carringlon," which arrived from Providence 
October 7, 1828, and moored in the basin in Central 
Street, at head of canal at eleven o'clock, and was 
advertised "To take passengers for Millbury to-mor- 
row morning, returning in the evening, and she will 
remain here during the present week for the accom- 
modation of parties." 

The arrival of the " Lady Oarrington," according 
to an account in the National JEgU, October 8, 1828, 
" was greeted on passing the locks by the cheers of 
the multitudes assembled. On reaching the Front 
and Central Streets bridges continued cheers hailed 
its approach. At eleven o'clock the boat arrived in 
the basil), and the commissioners and the crowd as- 
sembled were addressed by Colonel Jlerrick, chairman 



of the Board of Selectmen, who expressed the senti- 
ments appropriate to the occasion. On the conclu- 
sion of his remarks, enthusiastic cheers, the thunders 
of cannon and the peal of bells welcomed the visitant 
to the town. The commissioners and other gentlemen 
of l)oth States were passengers on ihe boat, and with 
the gentlemen of the town |>artook of a collation at 
the house of the Governor." 

The following notice appears in the Spy at this 
time: 

Port of Worcester, October 8, 1828, Arrived ycsterilay. Canal-boat 
'■Lady Carriugtou," Captain Dobson, from Providence, witli slate and 
grain for Natlian Heard. 

At the end of October " Lady Carrington " arrived 
in Providence loaded with domestic goods — butter, 
cheese, coal and paper. 

The following extracts, taken from the papers of 
the day, will give some notion of the amount and 
character of the goods shipped : 

Oanal-lioat ** Providence," Captain Dobaon, with lO,UiHJ lbs. lead pipe 
froniT. it .1. Sutton, machinery from William ilovey, and iron caj»tiiigs 
front Sumner Smith. 

Departed, boat '* Massacliufiotts " fur Providence, with 20 caaks of 
beer and 11 hogsheads from Trnmbnll & Ward. 

Arrived, canal-boat " Worcester," Captain (Jreen, from Providence, 
with 3457 lbs. of iron for Washburn & Goddard, 4169 lbs. of lead to ,T. .t 
T. Sntton, 13 bales of cotton, :{ tons of logwood and one ton of copperas 
t for William nutfiim, Jr. 
I 

i But there were three serious drawbacks to the 
j prosperity and profits of the canal, which soon made 
' it unpopular with most of its stockholders and pa- 
trons. Unfortunately, a portion of the canal was lo- 
cated in the Blackstone River, and boats were more 
[ or less delayed in high, and also in low water, and 
in some seasons for weeks were detained with goods 
which were wanted for immediate use or sale. In 
some years the canal was for four or five months 
closed with ice. In a season of drought the manufac- 
turers were jealous of the boatmen drawing so much 
water, and on several occasions in Rhode Island the 
owners of the mills and of the water-power ordered 
large loads of stone tipped into the canal-locks to 
prevent the boats from passing, which almost excited 
a riot among the boatmen, and some of the mill- 
owners were afraid their mills would be fired, as they 
had been threatened.' 

April 22, 1S4C, the &]>ii states that the canal com- 
pany had sold all that portion of the canal in Massa- 
chusetts, with all the privileges and francKiscs, ex- 
cept the reservoirs, for the sum of twenty-two thou- 
sand five hundred dollars to the Providence and Wor- 
cester Railroad Company, and April 25, 1849, the 
locks, boats and water-rights were advertised for sale. 
The last toll was collected November 9, 1848, but 
meantime more efficient means of communication be- 
tween the sea-board and Worcester was aflbrded by 
the railroads. 

In March, 1831, subscription books were to be 
found at the banks, where those who wished could 



' History of the Blackstone Canal," by Colonel I. Plumnier. 



WOKCESTKR. 



13 



subscribe to the stock for a railroad from Boston to 
Worcester. 

Tlie Boston ami Worcester Railroad Company wjis 
chartered June 23, 1831, to build a line Ironi Boston 
to Worcester, — a distance of forty-four miles. A 
train wa.s run through to Worcester July 4th; but 
it was unl until July tj, 183.j. that the road was for- 
mally ii|niied, allhouuli the cars had, for .some time 
previous, been running fmni Bo,ston to Wesllioro', 
and, as early as .\pril 10, IS'M, to Newton. The 
train of July tith to Worcester consisted of twelve 
cars ilrawn by two locomotives, and contained the 
|ire«idenl, directors, stockholders and invited guests 
to the number of about three hundred. 

The train, which left Boston at a i|uarter before 
ten, arrived in Worcester at about one o'clock. It 
was met by a committee, of which Charles Allen was 
I hairman ; a procession was formed under the direc- 
iioQ of General Nathan Heard, and proceeded to the 
Town Hall, where a collation was served and speeches 
Miaile. .\t four o'clock the train started on the re- 
turn trip to Boston. 

At the Insane .Vsylum, when the first locomotive 
passeil, one of the inmates remarked : " Well, that 
beats the very devil; I never before saw a critter RO 
»ii fast with such short legs!" 

In .\pril, li^'.ii), the business of the Boston and 
Worcester Railroad Company was said to have been 
more than double the amount of that of the corre- 
sponding time of the year preceding ; piLssenger cars 
were well patronized, an<l there was more freight 
than the company was prepared to care for. During 
the first five months of \s:w the receipts were twenty- 
Hi.x thousand dollars more than during the same pe- 
riod in IS.'Sti, and continued to show a steady in- 
crease. 

The Western Railroad Company was chartered 
February 15, Ix^.S, to construct a line from the ter- 
minus of the Boston and Worcester Railroad to 
Springfield, ami thmcc to the western boundary of 
the Stal^. A ma.ss-mecting was held in Funeuil 
Mall, Boston, October 7, 1835, to take measures to 
ensure the subscription to the capital stock of 
.*2,0(tH,iMMl. This was accomplished, and the fiiUow- 
tiir winter the l,ci;islature authorized a subscription 
.r #1,000, (KHI in behalf of the State, milking the capi- 
tal stock #.S,(KM»,fHXI. .\t this meeting Kilward Kver- 
ett made a speech, in which he insisted upon the 
importance to Mas.sachugetts of "Communication 
with the West." 

Trains commenced iheir regular trips between 
Hpringfii'ld ami Worcester tA-tober I, IK39. The 
time occupied in making the journey was about 
three hours. A public dinner waa given in Spring- 
field in honor of the opening of the road, October 3, 
iH.tit, on which occasion Ivlward Kverett said : 

l,«l lit cv^nloraptitlp the vnUre rKllmul, wUh lu oifv ami vliglaM, im 
r.A TMi mnchlnr. What m iNiiii^nl of nrt t lu nx««] porlloa unr hun- 



dred milM long ; ifs tiioTKble portion Hying acro« the Stale like a 
wpaTcr'i shuttle. R,r Mie iieaidile in tho morning, tiom nt noon ; and 
>«•')( ill tUr* roDi|uiw or HU aiittitiinal iluy. And tti«» power ulii<-li piilK 
■ill in iiiution, niust woiidri'iis, u few bni'l<«>li< of whIit ! . . . Itid w#» 
live in tt puPtic ngo, we liitve now roiu-licd tlio n>i;i<iii wIiito the genius 
of Bleani cuninniniculion wuuld ho pen«onilied and enilNMiiml. Her^ we 
j«ii<Mild tto laitght I>> hclodd hint a titanic coI«i»imh of iron and of bnuK, 
inntini-t Willi eleiiienlal life and powor, with a glowing furnace for liia 
lunge and Blrennm of (Ire mid Hiiioko for Ihe breath of liiB noetrils ! 
Willi one hand ho collects the fun* of the arctic circle, with the other 
he Hiiiilee the foreeta of Western I'ennitylvaniii. He planl?* his right 
fm)t before the Hoiirco of the Miwi'iuri iind Uin left on llio Hhureit of the 
Ciilf of Mexico, and gatliom in bin boHuiii the overllowing iibuudance of 
the faireet and richoet ralley on which the circling sun looke down. 



September 14, 1867, the two IMassacluisetts corpo- 
rations were consolidated under the name of the Bos- 
ton and .\lbaiiy Railroad Company, and on DecemVier 
28, 1870, a further consolidation was efl'ected with the 
New York roads, thus forming the present organiza- 
tion. 

The Norwich and Worcester Railroad Company 
was chartered in .March, 1833. The first meeting of 
the company was held at Webster .luly 1, 1835. The 
length of the routes surveyed was a little short of 
sixty miles, and passed through thriving villages, 
while upon thebanks of the adjacent streams there was 
said to be water-power sufficient to carry one million 
, spindles; the number of cotton-mills was seventy-five 
and of woolen-mills twenty-seven, exclusive of Wor- 
cester and New London. There were said to be one 
hundred and forty manufacturing e.stablishments be- 
tween Norwich and Worcester, within five miles of 
the road, 'rhuiigh fifteen miles longer than the Bos- 
ton and Worcester Railroad, it was estimated it would 
cost five hundred thousand dollars less. Regular 
trips between Worcester and New London com- 
menced .March 0, 1840, and the fare to New York 
by this route was fixed at five dollars. 

R. W. Whiting, Nov. 21, 1S38, advertises that, hav- 
ing made arrangements with the Boston and Wurces- 
tiT Railroad Co. to occupy a part of a car, to be run 
with the piLssenger train to Boston in the morning 
and back in the afternoon, commencing on Monday, 
20th of November, he will takechargc of all packages, 
bundles, etc., which may be entrusleil to Ins care, and 
will see them safely delivered the same day, and that 
he will also transact with promptness any other busi- 
ness committed to his care. 

He had an order-box at the Temperance Kxchange, 
Railroad Depot and the American Temperance 
House, where he could be found after seven in the 
evening and before seven in the morning. 
I William F. Ilaniden ha." always been credited with 
I being the lather of the American Kxpress system. 
His advertisement is found in the ■'<jii/ of June 24, 
1840, where he announces that the Worcester, New 
York, rhiladelphia. Baltimore and Boston Baggage 
Kxpress will commence .Inly 1, 1840, running dailv, 
and that he will forward in his express car daily, 
packages, bundles, etc.. In and from each of the 
nbovc-iiained places, — to liosion by steumboat-train 



u 



MANUFACTUBES. 



every morning, and to New York every afternoon at 
half- past four. 

All packag(.'8 iiMiet be markud llaindoirs Express, and seuttubiHonico, 
N, Tead's Hat Store, uno door north of the PoBt-Onicc, Worcester. 
Simeon Thompson, agent, Worcester. 

Wm. F. IIabndkn, Prop.t 

S Court Street, Boston. 

S. S. Leonard, in the Spy of August 12, 1840, adver- 
tises an express between Boston and Worcester. 

September 2, 1840, Hurke & Co. advertise the New 
York and Boston Baggage E.xpress, ni'i. Norwich and 
Worcester, run by the subscribers, P. B. Burke & 
Alvin Adams. Packages to be left at J. B. Tyler's, 
Worcester. 

The question of a railroad between I'rovidei'ce and 
Worcester, a distance of forty-three miles, was seri- 
ously discussed as early as 1837, but nothing was 
done for several years. In August, 1845, tlie enter- 
prise came nearly to a stand-still, although eight hun- 
dred thousand dollars had been subscribed under the 
Rhode Island charter and one hundred thousand dol- 
lars under the Massachusetts charter; but the Rhode 
Island charter re<[uired that the whole capital of one 
million dollars should be taken up before the com- 
pany could proceed. The amount was finally raised, 
and a consolidation was effected November 4, 1845, of 
the Massachusetts and Rhode Island Companies, 
each of which was chartered in 1844. The main line 
was opened in October, 1847, when a train, made up 
of nine covered cars and twelve or thirteen open cars, 
drawn by three powerful engines, arrived in Worces- 
ter with twelve hundred passengers from Providence 
and towns on the line. 

The Worcester and Nashua Railroad Company, or- 
ganized in November, 1846, was a consolidation of a 
company of the same name, chartered in Massachu- 
setts March 5, 1845, and the Groton and Nashua 
Railroad Company, chartered in New Hampshire 
December 4, 1844. The road was opened from Wor- 
cester to Nashua, a distance of forty-six miles, De- 
cember 18, 1848. The Nashua and Rochester Rail- 
road Company was chartered July 5, 1867, and 
opened from Rochester to Nashua, a distance of 
forty-eight miles, November 24, 1874. William A. 
Wheeler was one of the principal promoters of the 
Nashua Railroad, and was the superintendent of con- 
struction. 

December 1, 1883, the Worcester & Nashua and 
Rochester Railroads were consolidated under the 
name of the Worcester, Nashua & Rochester Railroad 
Company, which company was leased to the Boston 
& Maine Railroad Company October 30, 1885, for 
fifty years from January 1, 1886. 

The Boston, Barre & Gardner Railroad Company, 
running from Worcester to Winchendon, a distance 
of thirty-six miles, was chartered April 24, 1847, as the 
Barre & Worcester Railroad Company, and April 24, 
1857, as the Boston, Barre & Gardner Railroad 
Company. It was opened to Gardner, September 4i 



1871, and to Winchendon, January 4, 1874. It was 
taken posession of by the Fitchburg Railroad Com- 
pany March 7, 1885, and merged in the latter com- 
pany as a branch, .July 1, 1885. 

It will thus be seen that from an early day Worces- 
ter had the advantages of the best railroad facilities, 
and to this, and to the introduction of steam-power, 
is to be most large'y attributed her rapid growth as a 
manufacturing city. At the |>resent time there is not 
only direct communication with all points north and 
south, but there are five outlets and thirteen different 
lines, more or less, affording direct communication 
with the West. Edward Everett's wish, so strongly 
expres.sed in his speech in Faneuil Hall prior to the 
opening of the Western Railroad, is most perfectly 
fulfilled. 

In 1823 attention is called to the advantages pos- 
sessed by Worcester which should make it a large 
manufacturing centre. Encouragement is found in 
the fact that towns in the interior of England, with 
no greater local advantages, have contained from 
10,000 to 15,000 inhabitants, and since the introduc- 
tion of steam-power, a population of from 80,000 to 
100,000 has been reached. It was stated that Worces- 
ter would soon be at the head of canal navigation, 
and in addition, her " inexhaustible store of anthra- 
cite coal, well calculated for steam-engines," was 
referred to as being of the greatest value. 

Considerable attention was given in 1823 to the 
examination of the anthracite coal deposits, which 
were located northeast of the city, west of Plantation 
Street, and near its junction with Lincoln Street, now 
known as the Old Coal Mine. 

The coal was said to be of the same variety as the 
Rhode Island, Schuylkill and Lehigh coal, and was 
found, according to statements then made, to ignite 
easier than any of them and to burn longer. Care- 
ful comparisons were made of the relative value of 
these different varieties and the result, with a given 
quantity of each, showed as follows: 

Worcester coal lasted five hours; Lehigh, four hours 
twenty-five minutes; Rhode Island, three hours 
thirty-six minutes. The thermometer was raised by 
the Worcester coal to one hundred and seventy-nine 
degrees; by the Lehigh, to one hundred and sixty ; 
by the Rhode Island, to one hundred and thirty-four. 
The Worcester coal burned brighter than the oth- 
ers, and with more Hame. It was confidently asserted 
that when the Blackstone Canal should be completed 
Worcester coal would be the cheai>est fuel for Provi- 
dence ; it was estimated, however, that the Worcester 
coal was more impure than the Lehigh, containing a 
considerable portion of earthy matter that remained 
in the form of ashes after burning; but, in spite of 
this, it was thought that it would answer a valuable 
purpose. Tests were made at the Worcester Brewery, 
which appear to have been satisfactory, for in Febru- 
ary, 1824, app,lication was made to the General 
Court for the incorporation of the Massachusetts 



WORCESTER. 



15 



Coal Company, to ascertain the quality and quantity 
of the coal, and expense of mining and conveying it 
to market. 

For the next two years it appears to have been used 
as the principal fuel in tlie brewery of Trumbull & 
Ward, and was also used in Colonel tiardner Bur- 
bank's paper-mill. It was found there, that about 
liaif of the bulk of the coal rcmaitied atler the fire 
subsided, but upon replciiishiiiL' with new coal it was 
mostly consumetl in the second burning, and Colonel 
liurbank found the expense of keeping a fire with 
this coal to be less than the expense of cutting wood 
and tending fire, if the wood were delivered at the 
<loor free of expense. 

In December, 1827, the proprietors nf the brewery 
burned coal taken from the land of William E. 
fireen, which \vaj< a liltle distance from the mine, but 
appeared to be of a somewhat better quality. 

Work at the coal mine must have been prosecuted 
with some vigor, for in February, 1828, fifteen or 
twenty young men and a blacksmitli were wanted to 
work there. 

In November, 182S, an opening twelve feet wide 
and tight feet high had been carried into the hill 
about sixty feet, at a descent of about twenty-five 
degrees, and a railway was laid, on which the coal 
was carried from the mine to the place i>f deposit, in 
loads of fifteen hundreil pounds. 

In February, 1S2'.I, the Worcester Coal Company 
was incorporated, and in March, 1829, tlie Worcester 
Railway Company, with a capital of fifty thousand 
d^dlars, with authority to build a railway from the 
mine to Lake l^uinsigamond and to the lilackstone 
Canal, but the enterprise ajipears to have been abaii- 
iloned "hortly afterwards. The CDal was fuuiid to be 
too iiir])ure for ecimoniical use. It was sriniewhat 

humoriiusly said that there waa a d sight more 

coal after burning than there was before. 

Peat waa also found in the meadows about Wor- 
cester. In 18.'>t) it was introduce<l into the Wire 
Factor)' as a .substitute for wood and coal ; in three 
years nearly two thousand cords were use<l in thi.s 
way, and it waa found that a cord of well-seasoned 
peat would pro<luce as much heat as a cord of dry 
oak w<H)d ; and a cord and a half of peat would 
generate as much steam as a ton of aiithracite coal. 

It was estimated that peat could be used to good 
advantage for manufacturing purposes at a saving of 
from thirty-three and one-third to lifty per cent, over 
any other kind of fuel. It had the remarkable quality 
of keeping fire a long time, even burning for a week 
after the fire had gone ilown. In .April, I8.V1, the 
Worcester I'eat Oimpany was forme<l, but no business 
of conseijuence appi'ars to liav<; been done by it. It 
wa-s no doubt found that coal was the cheaper fuel. 

In June, 1827, Worcester is spoken of as containing 
" the large paper-mills belonging to Klijah I'urbank, 
five machine shops, at wbiih great i|imntitips of 
machinerv of varir>ns kinds are made, one smull 



Cotton factory, a l.ii'l aqueduct factory and other 
works of minor note." 

Prior to 1813 there was no stage or mail route be- 
tween Worcester and Providence ; in that year, or 
1814, it was attempted to run a stage, but the business 
was only sufficient to support a cheap carriage and 
two or three horses, ami the proprietors abandoned it. 

Until 1819 the mail was carried once a week in a 
one-horse wagon ; an attempt was then made to run 
a two-horse stage twice each week, but this did not 
pay, and waa abandoned, 

In 1823 a line of stages was started and well pat- 
ronized. 

For a long time the only stages from Worcester 
were six times each week to Bo.ston, and six times 
each week to New York. 

In 1827 there were eighteen ditl'erent lines of 
stages running from Worcester, and the passengers 
averaged one hundred daily. 



( .' H A P T E R III. 

MANUF.\CTt:RINC. A.\n MKCHANIC.\I. INl)l'STRIF,.S. 

Tfxttie Ftibrica and .If.if/iiiitfry /of Mitiinij T/imii— Kor/y Maimfucture of 
Clotlt — OniiiUiitn of Woolen Mauu/acture — John OfUltlintj — Manu/ao' 
turf of OMoii oud li',Mff«H Sftwliitiery—Vard Clolliing— f^mn—Otr- 
yU-JJir,.id. 

We have already noticed that Samuel Brazer in 
1790 advertised to sell "corduroys, jeans, fustians, 
federal rib and cotton," and that at the same time he 
and Daniel Waldo were iiroprietors of the Worcester 
Cotton Manufactory. There wjis tlien scarcely any 
machinery for the manufacture of cloth in America; 
it had been introduced into England, but there were 
severe laws against its exportation to the colonies. 

The process of making cloth, a.s early conducted, 
was entirely by hand-power. Hand-cards were used 
for straightening the fibre of the wool or cotton, 
which was spun by a single spindle driven by a 
wheel kept in motion by the hand of the operator. 
The yarn was woven upon hand-looms, and the cloth 
thus maije was gent to the fulling-mill, which was 
the first branch of the business not conducted in the 
household. 

Fulling-mills were scattered all over the country 
for the purpose of finishing the cloth made iti the 
farm-houses. 

.lolin Earic and Erasmus .lones in 1810 " erected 
wool-carding tnachines to pick, break and card wool 
at the building known as Linctdn's Trip-hammer 
shop, fifteen roils uiist of the ('ourthousc." 

In 1X11 William Hovey, an ingenious mechanic, 
advertised a new shearing-machine, called the "On- 
tario Machine," anri warned all persons against 
making or using a machine embodying the principle 
on which thi* was constructed, " which covers a 



16 



MANUFACTURES. 



spiral revolving shear working against a straight 
blade or cutter." One of the advantages claimed for 
this machine wiis that it could be carried anywhere 
in a one-horse wagon, and could be operated either 
by hand or water-power. It was claimed that tlii.s 
machine would facilitate that laborious branch of the 
business ten-fold. 

Hovey constructed another machine in 1812, in 
which the shears moved across the cloth on the same 
principle as hand shears, and he claimed that with 
this machine he could shear about two hundred 
yards of broadcloth a day as well as by hand. 

In 1814 .Jonathan VVinslow engaged in the manu- 
facture of flyers of a superior quality for s[)inning 
cotton. 

Coml)-plate.« for wool-carding machines were of- 
fered for sale in 1814 by Daniel Waldo at his store 
and by Earle & Williams at their shop. At the 
same time Merrifield ik Trowbridge were engaged in 
making cotton and woolen machinery at the Trow- 
bridgeville privilege. 

The prices generally adopted for wool-carding at 
this time, in Worcester County, were seven cents per 
pound for common wool, with an addition of three 
cents when oil was found by the carders ; twelve and 
a half cents per pound for carding half-blooded 
merino, with the like addition for oil; twenty-five 
cents per pound for carding full-blooded merino, 
with the like addition. 

An improvement over the ordinary single spindle 
spinning-wheel is ofl'ered by the proprietor, located at 
Sikes' Tavern, who offers for sale " The Farmer's 
Spinner," which carries from eight to twelve spin- 
dles attached to a single spinning-wheel. 

As an indication of the improvements being made 
in the construction of machinery, attentiim is called 
in 1822 to the fact that William Hovey is construct- 
ing cylinders for carding-machines entirely of iron, 
being cast in four parallel pieces. 

Stephen R. Tenney is engaged in building wool- 
carding, matting, shearing and brushing-machines, 
in the building formerly occupied by Tiowbridge & 
.Merrifield as a cotton factory. 

In 1822 Ichabod Washburn manufactured ma- 
chinery for carding and spinning wool at his shop 
near Sikes' Inn. 

January 1, 1823, Mr. Washburn took into partner- 
ship Benjamin Goddard (2d), and continued in the 
same business, to which they added that of card- 
ing wool, having purchased the machines lately owned 
by Mr. Calvin Darby. 

In .lune, 1824, Brewster & Fox. advertised the best 
carding-machines and workmen at their eatabli.sh- 
ment, one mile south of Worcester Village, — the 
South Worcester privilege^carding, six cents; oil- 
ing and carding, seven cents. 

The machine-shops, so called, at this time were 
almost exclusively engaged in the manufacture of 
cotton and woolen machinerv. 



William ]J. Fox, who seems at this time to have 
separated from his former partner, Mr. Brewster, 
dresses " Handsome wear " at his cloth-dressing fac- 
tory, one mile south of Worcester, at twenty cents 
per yard, " common at sixteen cents." 

Sarah Hale, widow of Joshua Hale, offered for 
sale, March 1, 182G, the factory at New Worcester, 
consisting of the building '' occupied for many years 
past for the purposes of manufectnring cotton and 
carding custom wool;" but not finding a customer, 
she had the machines put in good order and resumed 
business. 

Simmons & Wilder carded wool and dressed ch)th 
about two miles south of Worcester Street. 

September 13, 1826, William B. Fox moved his 
wool-carding and cloth-dressing business to the new 
building erected on the privilege formerly owned by 
Samuel Flagg, a i'ew rods south of Worcester Village. 

The woolen business at this time was in a most de- 
pressed condition, and was said to be done at a loss, 
even with the most prudent management. It was 
feared that the probable stf)ppage of the mills would 
be severely felt in the community. A meeting was 
held about this time in Boston, and it was decided 
that it would be advisable to apply to Congress for 
an increase of duties on imported woolens, or a re- 
duction of the duty upon wool. 

The cotton fabrics made in this country at this time 
were of excellent (luality, and the business was in a 
much better condition than the woolen business. 

A meeting was called in Worcester for Friday, De- 
cember 1, 1826, at ".Stock well's," to consider the de- 
pressed state of the woolen manufactures. At that 
meeting a memorial to Congress was prepared, signed 
by Emory Washburn, James Woolcott and Major 
.John Brown. 

One of the most valualde contributions to the woolen 
machinery of the world was the endless rolling, or 
American card, invented in 1826, by John Goulding, 
a native of Massachusetts, .and for many years a me- 
chanic at Worcester. Previous to the development of 
this nuuliine the rolls, or rolling issuing from the 
carding-macliine, were limited to the breadth of the 
card, and the ends of the separate rolls had to be 
spliced together by hand process, by a machine called 
a "billy." Goulding dispensed with the " billy," and, 
by an ingenious combination of devices, obtained an 
emlless roll, and so perfected his machinery that he 
could use it successfully from the moment the rolling 
left the dull end of the first picker until it was con- 
verted into yarn fit to be manufactured into cloth. 
This device has been styled the most important ad- 
vance in the card-wool industry of that early period.' 

Some knowledge of the e(|uipment of a woolen- 
factory at this time may be had from a notice of a sale 
in .June, 1827, at the woolen-factory then lately occu- 
pied by A. it 1). .Mdrich, and about one mile south 



WORCESTER. 



17 



of New Worcester, at which were to be offered for 
sale tea satinet-loouui, une double cardiug-iuachiue, 
one billy, one sheariug-machiue, one ro|iin^-)uachiue, 
one press, one copper-kettle, one potash-kettle, press- 
plates. 

In Februan,', I82•'^, William Hovey .stated that he 
is about to stop his manufacture of satinet shearing- 
machines, but n'ill continue to make broad and cn.ssi- 
mere shearing-machine.-- with vll)rating or revolving- 
^hear8, and .nlso metallic grinding-macliines for keep- 
ing the machines in order. 

In March, IS.'iO, it was proposed to erect in Wor- 
cester a patent hemp and Hax-machine, and the 
Worcester Hemp Company offered to furnish seed to 
the farmers on the following conditions: 

The company would furnish seed at the market 
price for cash, or in payment would lake good notes 
on interest payable in hemp stem at eighteen dollars 
jter ton, gross weight, when the crop was harvested 
and delivered at the machine, or would furnish the 
seed and soiv on shares. The company otlered to pay 
eighteen dollars per ton gross weight for good hump 
stem delivered at the machine cut, or fifteen dollars 
without. 

In March, 18:J1, Lewis Thayer and (leorge Willey 
commenced the manufacture of loom-pickers at New 
Won-ester. Lewis Thayer "carded wool at three 
and a half cents per pound and waited one year for 
his pay." 

In August, 1831, Washburn & Uoddard sold their 
business of manufacturing woolen machinery to 
.March, Hobart & Company, composed of Andrew 
Marrh, George Hobart, Henry (Joulding and H. F. 
-mith. This firm was dig.solved in 1882, and was 
succeeded by Hobart, Goulding it C'nmpany, who 
dissolved March 'J.'i, I8.'i2. They manufactured pick- 
er¥, carding-maohines, condensers, jacks, etc., also 
comb-plates, and were succeeiled by (ioulding A: 
Smith. 

February 2^, 1836, < ioulding <& Smith dissolved, 
1). T. liri^'ham having retired from the firm in 18-'i4, 
and Henry Onuldin): idutinued the business alone. 
A co-partnership was furnicd, April, 1837, under the 
title of Henry (ioulding & Company, i-onsisting of 
Henry I ioulding, John (tales, (2d), and Luke With- 
erby. They were burned out in .Vugust, IWiS; the 
liiiililing, which was of brlik, was valued at three 
thousan<l five hiinilred dollars, and was owned by 
Frederick W.T'aine; the tools and machinery, vahieil 
at eight thousand dollars, were destroyed. This con- 
cern built at that time about si.xty thoii.sand d>dlars' 
worth annually (if woidm maihinery. 

Nov. l.'!, 1.H41, < ioulding & Davis, who had succeeded, 
dissolved, and Henry (ioulding inntiniieil. .Apiil 1. 
1S')1, Willard, WilliamM& Company, bought imt Henry 
Oouldinft; the firm was composed of Fitxroy Willard, 
Warren Williams, N. A. I^ombard, Charles A. Whitte- 
more and H. W. (Jonklin : this firm was sn<'i ceded 
April 2, 18.V>, by F. Willard A (Company, composed 



I of Fitzroy Willard, Charles Whittemore, N. A. Lom- 
bard and H. W. Conklin. This firm was succeeded 
April 1, IStil, by Bickford & Lombard, who were 
succeeded by N. A. Lombard, the present proprie- 
tor, who has been connected with the business since 
185L 

From 1823 until the present time this business 
has been confined to the manufacture of woolen ma- 
chinery of dillerent kinds, and at present includes 
carding and spinning machinery, s|)inning jacks, 
pickers, dusters, willowers, etc. 

The firm of Phelps & Bickford was composed of 
Horatio Phelps and William M. Bickford; W. M. 
Bickford succeeded William Stowell, August 31,1831, 
and built woolen machinery, condensing, picking, nap- 
ping and brushing-macliines, also spinning jaiks, at 
the Stowell shop in New Worcester ; he was suc- 
leeded by Abel Kimball, who continued the business 
at the same place. 

Horatio Phelps manufactured looms of all kinds in 
the shop formerly occniiied by William Howard, at 
.South Worcester, from whom Mr. Phelps had pur- 
chased the right to make his patent broad looms. 
Phelps & Bickford continued to manufacture here, 
after the formation of their copartnership, all kinds of 
woolen looms. In October, 1834, they removed from 
South Worcester to Court Mills, then a new building 
erected by Stephen Salisbury for the accommodation 
of parties desiring to lease factory room. Phelps & 
Bickford afterwards occupied part of the wire factory 
in Grove Street. Later, Mr. Bickford continued the 
business alone, and in 1859 he employed twenty-three 
hands in building looms in the west wing of the 
Grove Street mill. December 2S, 18G0, he moved to 
Mcrrifield's building, in K.xchatige Street, where he 
was prepared to build all kinds of Crompton looms 
and other fancy looms, broad and narrow; also walk- 
ing, dressing and spooling machinery, with steam 
cylinilers or pipes for drying ; also all kinds of ma- 
chinery and tools for making wire. 

August 17, 1831, .ri)lin Simmons & Co. announced 
that they had formed connection in business, and will 
supply at their new shop in New Worcester the fol- 
lowing machinery : Broad and narrow shearing ma- 
chifiCH, pressing-machines, napping-machincs. This 
copartnership was composed of .John .Simmons, Abel 
Kimball and .Mbert Curtis, and was dis.solved Febru- 
ary 21, is;i2 Mr. Curtis in 1831 took a lease of Lewis 
Thayer, the then owner of u part of the water privi- 
lege which was nrigiimlly owned by .Joshua Hale. 
Here he erci'ted a machine shop. The tdd Hale 
building was a wooilen factory, two stories and a 
basement, and stood where the middle building of 
the ( 'nrtis it .Marble factories now is. 

.Mbert Curtis was born in Worcester, 18(17. At 

the age of seventeen he was apprenticed to White & 

Boyden, who nninuliictured woolen machinery at 

South Worcester, near the present location of the 

, carpet-millM. After learning his trade he workcl 



18 



MANUFACTURES. 



here for three years as a journeyman, at one dollar 
and twenty-five cents per day. In December, 1829, 
he went to Pittsburgh, but returned in January, 1831, 
and again entered the employment of White & Boy- 
den. While learning his trade he became acquainted 
with his fellow-workmen, Kimball and Simmons, and 
they conceived the idea of going to New Worcester 
and starting for themselves. The firm of John Sim- 
mons & Co. was succeeded by Pimmons & Curtis, 
who continued to make shearing and other machinery. 
In 1833 Mr. Curtis purchased Mr. Simmons' interest, 
and continued alone until 1834, when Mr. William 
Henshaw became a ])artner and so continued until 
1839, the firm-name being Curtis & Henshaw. They 
had not room enough at New Worcester for their 
business, and for a time leased room of Fchabod 
Washburn, in the wire-mill in Grove Street. This 
copartnership was dissolved .January 8, 1839. 

In 1835 Capron & Parkhurst occupied the old Hale 
building, which was owned by Clarendon Wheelock. 
About 1840 Mr. Curtis purchased of him the Pams- 
horn water privilege, building and satinet machinery, 
consisting of two full sets. He had previously bought 
the Lewis Tliayer water privilege, where the old dam 
stood on Tatnuck Brook, to run his machine-shop. 
Mr. Curtis leased the old building to .John Metcalf 
and William C. Barber, wlio ran it until 1842, when 
it was burned, together with the machine-shop of Mr. 
Curtis, which was a wooden building with a base- 
ment. The original dam on the privilege stood one 
hundred feet from the bridge toward the location 
of the present dam. and was aliout sixty feet long 
and four feet high. 

After the fire of 1842, Mr. Curtis immediately re- 
built the machine shop (52 x 30 feet), three stories 
high. In 1842 he built a factory on the site of the old 
Hale mill, a portion of which he leased to Sumner 
Pratt, to make cotton sewing thread. Mr. Curtis 
afterwards had an e(iual interest with Mr. Pratt, and 
bought him out in 1844. The basement of the build- 
ing was rented to Ij. & A. G. Goes, who manufactured 
wrenches. While Mr. Sumner Pratt was here in the 
thread business, Mr. I,. .). Knowles and a Mr. Hap- 
good purchased his |)r()duct and spooled it in another 
room of the -same building, and put it on the market. 
After Mr. Curtis bought out Mr. Pratt, he put in 
looms for making cotton sheetings. The mill was con- 
tinued as a cotton-mill for several years, when it was 
converted into a satinet-mill. In 1845 the South Mill 
was built and used for the manufacture of cotton 
sheetings and drillings. 

In 1870 the South Mill w.as chaiige<l to woolen 
goods, blankets, shawls and dress goods. 

At the north end of Curtis bridge was the old 
wheelwright shop of E. Graves, now used as a dwell- 
ing-house. Mr. Curtis bought out Graves in 1837, and 
continued the wheelwright business until about 1840. 
In 1852 Mr. Curtis bought thcTrowbridgeville fac- 
tory and commenced here the manufacluii' of cuttMn 



sheetings. In 1860 the mill was burned and jjartially 
rebuilt and filled with machinery for making woolen 
goods. 

Mr. Curtis changed the 1845 mill to woolen goods 
in 1871, and has since put in additional machinery for 
the manufacture of horse blankets. 

The mill built in 1842 was changed to satinets in 
1857. In 1862 Mr. Curtis took Edwin T. Marble into 
partnership in his business for manufacturing woolen 
machinery for finishing woolen, silk and cotton goods, 
and that jiartnership has continued to the present 
time. 

This company makes a specialty of shearing ma- 
chinery, the improvements in which have been greater 
than in any other machinery used in the manufacture 
of woolen goods. Mr. Curtis built the first machines 
for shearing or trimming cotton cloth built in this 
country ; they were used to remove the fuzz from cot- 
ton cloth. In old times this was accomplished by 
singeing or burning. 

A shearing-machine made in France was sent from 
Pawtucket to Mr. Curtis to be repaired. Mr. Curtis 
examined it and thought it could be improved. He 
began building the machines then and has continued 
ever since. Up to that time the French machines had 
been used in this country. They had one set of shears ; 
the Curtis machine nov^ has from two to five sets. 
One machine made at the present day will do as much 
as twelve did in 1830. 

December 10, 1833, William H. Howard and Silas 
Dinsmore made cotton and woolen machinery at their 
machine shop near the Court-House, and continued 
in business until September 30, 1834, when they dis- 
solved. In November, 1834, Silas Dinsmore com- 
menced the manufacture of power-looms at the same 
place, and .\pril 13, 1835, formed a co-partnership 
with Fitzroy Willard, continuing in the same business. 
In 1838 Fitzroy Willard was located at Court Mills, 
where he manufactured broad power, satinet and 
cassimere looms, and in 1840 Silas Dinsmore manu- 
factured reeds at Court Mills. 

The card-clothing industry has been a most import- 
ant one, and was naturally among the earliest in 
which the cobmists engaged, for the reason that it is 
essential to the manufacture of textile fabrics. The 
use to which carding is put is to separate the fibres of 
the material being worked, and to lay them parallel. 
The process consists in the reciprocal motion of two 
surfaces covered with short pointed teeth, between 
which the stock is placed. Formerly this was done 
by hand, and was conducted in the household. 

" It is probable that either cards proper, or tools 
closely resembling them, were used as far back as the 
dawn of civilization, when the art of the manufacture 
of textiles was in its very infancy. To within a com- 
paratively recent period the processes were very rude, 
depending mainly on hand labor, and thus the cards 
employed differed somewhat in their shape from those 
used at the present day. 



WORCESTER. 



19 



"To produce them, a sheet of leather was taken 
about eighteen or twenty inches l>y about four inches 
in width. Thi^ was ruled by lines into cross sections 
as a guide fur the workman, who nseil a pricker with 
two blades, piercing two holes at a time at the point 
where the lines inter^iected until the whole sheet was 
pierced. This accomplished, the wire wius taken, each 
pin or shaft being separately bent into a staple by 
hand. The prongs of' the .staples formed the card 
teeth, which were inserted also by hand, one staple 
at a time, into the perforated leather sheet above 
described. 

"The sheet, with its wire teeth, was now nailed 
upon a board, and called a card. With this appliance, 
or rather with a pair of them, the operator carded. 
He place<l tufts ol cotton, wool or other fibre between 
them, and drew the one over the other for several 
strokes until both were e(|ually filletl, and then, by a 
reverse stroke, he cle:ined out the tibre in the form of 
a roll, called a carding, which was used by the spinsters 
for making their yarn." 

Tacks were first used in making hand-cards, and 
they were for a time manufactured in this country 
by cutting them out of sheet-iron with a pair of 
shears. The tack was held in a vise and headed by 
a single blow. About six hundred and tidy tacks 
were required for nailing each dozen pairs of hand- 
cards to the boards on which they were used. All 
the tacks used for this purpose for many years were 
made by hand in the manner described above, until 
Thomas Ulanchard, of Sutton, invented an automatic 
machine for making the tacks from strips of sheet- 
iron. 

Daniel Denny, whose card-factory has been no- 
ticeil, probably followed the practice of giving the 
teeth out tn women and children, who would set them 
in the leather at theit homes. 

Card-setting by hand was done !is late as 1828. 
Karle & Chase, whose store was at the corner of 
Thomiit and Main .'Streets, state in August, 1820, that 
|>er<ons who wi-*li for cards t^^) be set can be accom- 
modated at their store. In 182'.' the average price 
paid for setting cards by hand was forty-two cents per 
«|uare foot. A grxid setter would put in about twenty 
thousand teeth in a day. The best machines to-day 
will set three hundred teeth per minute, at an average 
cost of five cents per square foot. Wages paid card- 
setters in IS2'.l, -i"!.:':' per day; at the present time, 
t:'.!jil to ?4..')0 per day. The cost of setting cards is 
now something less than one-eighth the amount paid 
sixty yean ago, and the wages paid average three 
times as large. 

Amos Whitlemorc, of Cambridge, had patented a 
card-setting machine in 17!>7,l>iit it could not be used 
by others, and tht; cards made by hanil at Leicester 
were of better quality. 

In 178/i the manufacture of cards was begun in 
Leicester, ami to this industry the growth and pros- 
perity of ihe town is largely indebleil. In I7'^!l 



Pliny Earle, who had manufactured hard-cards since 
1780, made for Alniy & Brown, of Providence, R. I., 
the first machine card clothing in America, as ap- 
pears from the following interesting letter: 

Prom i)r.M.E, lUli M. ^lll, 1789. 

KkSI'KCTEII FltlK.N[>, 

l^LiNY Kakl. — We having protty much concludcil toftlt«r ami tucuvtT 
our CanliugMachin*, unil J(K»e|ih Congdun iiiforiiiiiii; im that ho ox- 
|ktictO(l ti' gv tu lifioustor 800II, wo thought wo would iucli«e .V: noiiil Uico 
the Xuiiilwr A ilianU'tiT of *iur CyliniKTBuuil liroiMitM* th> covering thoni 
with Ciinb. Wo luivo cunferiHl with our Canl .Mukon« in Town ulmiil 
doing tlio .lolih, who upiH-ui' tloHirouH lu do it, and are willing to tuko 
their pay, ull oxrepttng tho coMt of tho wii-o in our way, hut, it hoing our 
object to havo it widl dono, and thiukiug wo cunld roly n|>4in thy iKii-- 
roniutnco, havo iirvfonsl tliy doing it. 

Wo have al(M> had it in contonildation to writo tu llooton,but, hoing do- 
^iroua of liaving it dono Huon, uihI that l>oing likoly to iirotroct tho titno 
of having it dono, have waved that also. 

Wo uro not desirous of boating thoo down in tliy prico, or that thou 
titiould do it boliiw w*hat thou e4>ulil reustmable aflortl, but wo have 
thought, cuusiiluring tliou hast thy nutchinory now pivpared, which was 
thit when thou ilid that Tor the C(>ni|>any at Wurcostor, that if wo gave 
thee tho fttiiuo for covering ours as tlntn had for thoini, tho' a little 
larger, it would bo e<iuivalont to what thou charged them, considoring 
tho preparations aforosaitl, which the hntl ontployers, or ntthor those on 
whose account it is oa|H.'cially iinulo, in all such ciuos must expect to 
pay, OS wo havo had abundaltt oxporionce. If that price will answer, 
we Hhunid bo glail tliou wuuhl lake the paiUH tt> go and view the ma- 
chinoat Wuix-e^ter, and if thelo can tie any inipi-overuent made upon 
tlio uianner of covering, that, should like thou would make it, either in 
tho Ijongth of tho Teeth, or in any other juirticular. Stowoi. who su- 
perintends the businitss there, will chearfully give theo any information 
respecting tho working of theirs, no doubt, njiou thy uwu account ami 
upon unn also, as we are upon friendly terms v^ith him, having ilivort 
times been mulualty helpful to each otlier. 

We are nnicli in want of oun being done, and should bo glad tu have 
it soon ; propose, therefore, if thou undertak«»4 tho business, that thou 
would set a lime when thou thinks thou could bring the canls down to 
put on, and wo v\ ill endeavor tu imve tlio nuichine in readiness to to- 
ceive them. Inclosed is the dimensiuits of the Cyllinders, that is, their 
diameters ; tho secontl Cyllindor in circumference, thou knows, has the 
cards ]duce<l at sumo distance from each other, in order tliat tiie rake 
may take the rolls of distinctly ; ours are about *^% inches apart. 

We are of the opinion that the liitid of the tootii ought to be in pro- 
portion t*f the circumference of tlie Cyllinder on which they are placwl. 
Wo propose having the Canls the snnio si/o as ttitsie on the Worcester 
machine, vi/.: lii Inidies and all Cotton (.'ards of ei|inil igualily ovrept- 
ingthe feitlor, and thot'yilhider that takes it off uf it, and we need md 
add of the l>est <iuality of Iho number suitable for tin- machine, of 
which, we suppose, the nuichine at Wurccster must be cunsidere<l as a 
sample. Wo shouhl lie glad to supply thee with any kini) of live Stu«;k, 
if thou should want, at Cost price, or any kind of pri>duco, cloths in- 
cluded, for the whole or |H4rt of the amount ; if not, we will (my theo 
the cash. We think that in four weeks froin this time we shall l>e glad of 
theCapls. A line fn>m thoo by Joseph nrsi>ectlng what wo nuy dolwnd 
on will be agreeable, as we moan to Jrroeeciilo tiie acciiuiplishtuent of 
tlie busim«t as fast lut nniy Ih>. 

Krnm thy KriemI, AlMV A lli(..WN. 

P. S. — Tlio dianieleniof our Cylindeniaro hero silltjollied. 

The great Cylinder 3tl Indies. 

the next 'M " 

the next \U% •• 

1 ditto 10 '■ 

4 " 

" 3 

Olio of which, tho fvoilor, to bo covered with wool Card«. 

It has lieen often said that the first inachinc card- 
clothing was made for Samuel Slater in 17'."l. Mr. 
Slater landed in New York November II, 17H!». De- 
cember 2, I78'J, ho wrote to Aliny & Urown, and De- 
cember lOlh received a reply, making an engagement 
willi liiiii. Dcceiiiber I llli I'lliiv Kiirle set out for 



MANUFACTURES. 



Providence lo put cards on Almy & Brown's ma- 
diine. There is no doubt that Mr. Slater had much 
to do with perfecting the carding-engine and making 
it a success after he went into the employ of Almy & 
Brown. 

(I am indebted to Mr. Thomas A. Dickinson, of 
the Worcester Society of Antiquity, for this informa- 
tion and copy of above letter.) 

The leather first used in making machine-cards 
was calfskin, and then cowhide tanned for the pur- 
pose. Sheepskin was generally used for hand cards. 

In 1791 Mr. Earle's brothers — Jonah and Silas — be- 
came a-ssociated in business with Pliny, and in 180(5 
Silas commenced to manufacture on his own account. 
At his death his son, Timothy, sold his father's ma- 
chinery to his cousin, Timothy K. Harle, and Reuben 
Randall. Mr. Randall's interest, after some trans- 
fers, came into the hands of Edward Earle. 

Timothy Keese Earle, founder of the T. K. Earle 
Manufacturing Company, was born in Leicester in 
182.3. In December, 1843, Timothy K. Earle & 
Co., consisting of Timothy and his brother, Edward 
Earle, moved from Leicester to Worcester, and occu- 
pied room over Pratt it Earle's iron store, in Wash- 
ington Square, where they continued the manufac- 
ture of all kinds of machine-cards of the best quality. 
Their machines were built by William R. Earle, be- 
tween 1843 and 1849. 

In 1857 T. K. Earle & (!o. built the factory now 
occupied liy their succe.ssors for the manufacture of 
card-clothing cotton, gin-clothing and belting. This 
has always been the largest card-clothing factory in 
America. 

Edward Earle retired from the business in 18G9, 
and was succeeded by his brother Thomas, who died 
in 1871. In 187'2 Mr. Edwin Brown became a part- 
ner, and subsequently, in 1880, the agent and treas- 
urer of the T. K. pjarle Manufacturing Company, of 
which Mr. T. K. Earle was the president. 

The .T. K. Earle Manufacturing Company own a 
number of patents on their improvements in the 
method of producing card-clothing. Pliny Earle 
made one kind of card-clothing, viz. : iron wire teeth 
set by hand in leather. The T. K. Earle Manufac- 
turing Company now make all kinds of leather card- 
clothing, using both hemlock and oak tanned leather, 
over ten varieties of cloth card-clothing, and use 
eighteen or more sizes of soft steel wire, eleven or 
more sizes of hardened and tempered steel wire, be- 
siiles tinned wire and brass wire of various shapes 
and sizes. They curry their own leather, manufac- 
ture card-cloths and rubber-faced card-cloths for 
themselves and for other card-makers. They have 
built almost all their card-.setting machines in their 
own machine-shop, and are constantly making im- 
provements in the quality and the methods of card- 
clothing. 

The T. K. Earle Manufacturing Company of Wor- 
cester, Mass., have manufactured double and single 



cover cloth for foundation for card-clothing for the 
past fifteen years, having special and improved ma- 
chinery for the purpose, and in 1883 they built a 
factory on their premises for the manufacture of all 
kinds of card-cloth, including vulcanized rubber fac- 
ings. With the very best American and English 
machinery, and the most improved process of vul- 
canizing rubber for this purpose, they are now ])re- 
pared to furni,sh not only their own large card- 
clothing factory with card-cloths, but have sufficient 
capacity to make them for all the card-makers in 
America. 

In 186G .Joseph B. and Edward Sargent, sons of 
Joseph B. Sargent, the manufacturer of card-cloth- 
ing in Leicester, organized the Sargent Card-Cloth- 
ing Company, and built a factory in Worcester, with 
Edward Sargent as manager. April 15, 1879, the 
business was sold to James Smith & Company, of 
Philadelphia. 

Howard Bros. Manufacturing Company, Washing- 
ington Square, manufacture machine card-clothing, 
machine wire heddle.s, hand stripping cattle and 
curry cards. Established in 1808, by C. A. Howard, 
A. H. Howard and John P. Howard, continued as a 
co-partnership until 1888, when the company was in- 
corporated as the Howard Bros. Manufacturing Com- 
pany, with a capital of forty-five thousand dollars. 

They started with four hands, and now employ 
twenty-two, and occupy ten thousand square feet of 
flooring. They have a lumber-mill at Keyes, N. H., 
where they make the backs of their cards. Their 
machinery is all of their own construction, and much 
of -it special machinery of their own design, notably 
the card-setting machines, employed for setting 
teeth, in the cards of which there ai'e from forty 
thousand to eighty thousand in each square foot of 
card-clothing. One feature of this business is the 
manufacture of diamond-pointed card-clothing and 
hand stripping cattle and curry cards of every de- 
scription in wood and leather for cotton, wool and 
flax. Their trade extends throughout the United 
States and Canada. 

Charles F. Kent started the business of manufac- 
turing card-clothing in January, 1880. 

There appears to have been a number of small 
manufacturers of cards in Worcester at different 
times. Daniel Denny and Earle & Chase have al- 
ready been mentioned. In 1.S34, William B. Earle 
had room in Howard it Diiismore's shop, near the 
Court-House, for the manufacture of cards. 

In 1848, William E. Eanies, 43 Front Street, man- 
ufactured cards ; he wjis succeeded by Earle Warner. 

In 1849, N. Ainsworth occupied the third story of 
Goddard & Rice's shop in the manufacture of card- 
setting machinery. The business wa.s jiurchased by 
F. G. Iluggles in 18;3I. 

David McFarland at this lime manufactured card- 
setting machinery, and made the best machines then 
made in the country. All the machines now running 



WOUCKSTKR. 



21 



ill the Siirgeiit Card-Clothing Com|iaii_v liictorv, ox- 
oeptiog a few English machines, are the McFarlaiid 
pattern.' 

IvOOMS. — " Weaving is the art by which threads or 
yarns of any substance are interlaced so as to form a 
continuous web. It is |ierha|js the most ancient of the 
manufacturing arts, tor clothing was always a first 
necessity of mankind. 

"The 8implc;it form of weaving is that employed in 
making the mats of uncivilized nations ; these consist 
of single untwisted fibres, usually vegetable, arranged 
side by side to the width ntiuired, and of the length 
of the fibres themselves, which are tied at each end 
to the stick which is so fi.\-ed as to keep the fibres 
straight and on the sitme plane ; then the weaver 
lifts up every other of these longitudinal threads, 
and passes under it a transverse one, which he first 
attaches by tying or twisting to the outermost fibre of 
the side he commences with ; and afterward, in the 
same way, to that on the other side, when it is passed 
through the whole series. The accession to the art 
of spinning threads of any length enables more ad- 
vanceil nations to give great length to the warp, or 
series of threails which arc first arranged and to pass 
the weft, or transverse thread, backward and forward 
by means of a shuttle without the necessity of fi.xing 
at the sides. That kind of weaving which consists of 
passing the weft alternately over and under each 
thread of the warp is called plain weaving; but if 
the weaver takes up first one and then two threads 
alternately of the warp series, and passes the weft 
under them for the first shoot of his shuttle, and raised 
those which were left down before for the second 
shoot, he produces a cloth with a very difl'erent ap- 
pearance, cal1e<l twill. 

"There are few arts which re<iuire more patience 
than weaving; as many a.s from one t'l two thousand 
threads often constitute the warp, atid these threads 
may be so varied in ipiality as to produce many vari- 
eties of fabric. From that cause alone there are almost 
infinite variations; many maybe produced by the 
order in which the threads are lifted for the pa.ssage 
of the weft ; that of itself can also be varied as much 
or more in its quality and other circumstances, .so that I 
the inventive genius of the weaver finds ince.s.sant 
opportunities for its display, and nice arithmetical 
calculations are required in estimating and allotting 
the niinieroUH threads to the end le.ss variety of pat- 
terns which are constantly p.-tssing through the loom.''' 
The first practical powi-r-liM>m was devised in J'S.'i 
by iJr. I')dmutid (Jurtwright, of Uerbyaliire, Kngland, 
a minister of the Gospel, and ignorant ol' mechanics. . 
He is said to have had his attention turned to the | 
subject by the remark that when A rkw right's patents 
for spinning yarn by power should have expired, so 

> Much gf tb« outofUl ami In lb* ulleU on canl-cloihlo( b UkrD 
frulDk tiuok nllad "A Conliiry Old," piibllibnl bj UitT. K. KaiU MTk. 
(V, •ihI wrIUaD l>jr II. li. Klllrc<li(> 11111 A C. Ooulil. 

* I'eupli't EucyclupudU. 



many persons would go into the spinning business 
that no bunds would be found to weave the cotton. 
He spent thirty thousand pounds in endeavoring to 
perfect his loom, and in 1808 received a grant from 
Parliament of ten thousand pounds for his services. 
Steam-power was appliecl to his looms in 1807. 

Improvements were rapidly made upon the Cart- 
wright loom by other inventors, and it was soon 
brought into general use for both cotton anrl woolen 
goods. 

Ichabod Washburn speaks in his .\utobiography of 
seeiiiir a |iower-loom in the winUrof l.SlJf-l-l, which 
was so crude that all the cog-wheels wen; made of 
wood, and expresses the opinion that it was probably 
the first power-loom in the United States. Whether 
this be true or not, it is certain the power-loom had 
not, at that time, been long in operation in this 
country. 

In the fall of 1S23, Wm. H. Howard and Wm. 
Hovey were in business together, and after building 
various kinds of machinery, commenced building 
broad power looms, and finally settled on the common 
Scotch looms as the best, and put them in operation 
at the factory of the Goodell .Mannufadurini: Com- 
pany, Millbury, at the I'ameacha factory in Middh-- 
town, Conn., at theTorrington ami l.itchlield factories, 
and elsewhere. 

This partnership wiis dissolved, and early in 1S20 
each manufactured these looms on his own account, 
William H. Howard building broad power cassimere 
and kerseymere looms, carding and shearing-machines 
at his shop, one mile south of the Main Street in 
Worcester, — South Worcester privilege. 

For .satisfactory proof of the superiority of his 
looms, he referred to the Goodell .Manufacturing 
Company in Millbury ; to Wolcottville .Manufacturing 
Company, in Torrington, (^mn. ; and to /ailiariah 
Allen, Providence, ft. I. 

These looms were sold for onehundreil and twenty- 
five dollars each, delivereil at the shop in Worcester, 
including the expense of putting them in opera- 
tion. 

In 1828 Rice i% Miller advertised for sale satinet 
power-looms, and in IS.'lo Whcclock it I'reiilice took 
theshop theretofore occupied by William H. Howard 
at South Worcester, and purcha.se<l of him the right 
Ui build his improved looms, upon which he had a 
patent for an improvement in the lay motion, consist- 
ing of an irregular slot in the sword of the lay through 
which it was moved. There are many looms now in 
operation with lliis movement. 

In I8.'!2 Horatio I'helps carried on the loom busi- 
ness at the shop formerly occupied by William H. 
Howard, having purchased the right to make and sell 
the Howanl Improved Patent Uroad-loom, 

The business was conclucted at the same place in 
I83.'{, by PhelpK it liickford, who ailverliseil thai they 
were prepareil to biiibl to order all kinils of woolen 
louins of the most im|>rovi-d plan. In addition t<ilhe 



MANUFACTURES. 



business of makin};; the broad satinet cassimere 
liower-looras, they manufactured to order reeds of any 
description. 

Prescott Wheelock was building looms at his shop 
in New Worcester in 1833, of any description that 
the public might want, and in 1835 Silas Dinsmore 
and Fitzroy Willard formed a copartnership to man 
ufacture power-looms ; they dissolved in November, 
183'), Fitzroy Willard continuing the busine-s at the 
same place in Court Jlills, where he manufactured 
broad [mwer satinet and cassimere looms. He built fifty 
broad power looms in Worcester for W. & D. D. Far- 
num, and Mr. Samuel Porter helped set them up in 
the mill at Blackstone, in 1835. Most of the ma- 
chinery for that mill was built in Worcester. Henry 
Goulding constructed the carding and spinning- 
machines. 

All the looms which have been spoken of uji to this 
time were plain looms, so-called, the fancy loom being 
an invention of later date. The plain loom is one in 
which a few harnesses, operated by cams, are used. 
The goods woven on this loom are like cotton or 
twilled fabrics. 

The modern fancy loom varies in range from two 
to forty harnesses. The movement of the^e harnesses 
is controlled by a pattern-chain, made up to corres- 
pond with the different make of good.s, and for dif- 
ferent colors of filling in the goods, drop-boxe.'t, or 
movable boxes are recjuircd, which are also controlled 
by chain, according to the pre-determined pattern. 
With these boxes from one to seven colors can be 
used. 

In the trade at the |irescnt time the cam-loom, 
with a single box, whether of two or eight harness 
capacity, is usually spoken of as a i)lain loom, and 
any loom whose mechanism is controlled by chain 
made up according to a pre-determined pattern, is 
usually spoken of as a fancy loom. 

Up to 183G the harnesses of all power-looms were 
operated by cams; consei|uently the changes of weave 
of which the looms were capable were very limited, 
and goods for which an intricate figure or design was 
required were necessarily woven, as formerly, in a 
hand-loom. 

In 1830 William Crompton, a native of Lancashire, 
England, a practical weaver both by hand and power, 
came to Taunton, Mass., and entered the service of 
Messrs. Crocker & Hichniond. 

While ill the employ of th.at firm Mr. Crompton 
invented a loom to weave a certain iiattern of goods 
which the looms in the mill could not weave, for 
which a patent was issued to him in 1837, and the 
loom was introduced into the manufacture of cotton 
goods. This loom was the first i)ower-loom invented 
in which the figure or jiattern desired to be woven 
could be made up in a small chain, and when ])laced 
upon the loom would control suitable mechanism to 
move the harnesses to weave the proper figure. Mr. 
Crompton went to England and ])rocured a patent for 



his loom in that country, and in 1839 he returned to 
the United States, and in 1840 introduced his inven- 
tion into the Middlesex Mills, in Lowell, Mass. Up 
to that time no fancy woolens had been woven by 
power in this country or in Europe, except those 
woven on hand-looms. 

In a letter written in 1877 to the late George 
Crompton, Esq., by Mr. James Cook, agent of the 
Middlesex Mills in 1840, the following interesting 
statement is made : 

The writer, now in liis eighty-third year, in looking over a lot of old 
Uiiinplca, came acrofw a piece of fancy woven clutii, the very first woveu 
in tliia country hy power; and the idea crossed his mind tliat it might 
be interesting to you to learn the beginning of this great revohitiou in 
the fabric now in use very generally in this country to the extinction of 
the plain fabrics formerly used to a great extent. 

Your father came to the Middlesex Mills in this city from Taunton, 
and represented to the writer and Mr. Edward Winslow, now deceased, 
a machinist in the employ of the Middlesex Company, that lie bad a 
loom at Taunton for weaving fancy cottons which he thought might be 
applieil to woolen fabrics. The cotton loom was sent fur by the Middle- 
sex Company. Mr. Winslow and myself altered one cassimere loom with 
the assistance of your father, who was good mechanic, hy putting on 
Crompton's patent. The experiment was an entire success; the altera- 
tion was e.xtended very soon to all the cassimere lo mis and then to the 
broad looms, so that the whole of the weaving power of the mills was 
in that directitm. 

Mr. Samuel Davis .states thatsoon after this, happen- 
ing to be in Bo.ston, he accidentally met Mr. Crompton 
at an hotel there, who told him about his loom. Mr. 
Davis was then building carding and spinning- 
machines in the old Court Mills, and Mr. Crompton 
stated to him that he wished to get some one to 
build his loom ; that he had been to Lowell and 
Lawrence ; also to Dedham, but thought that he 
should close the contract at Lowell. Mr. Davis said 
he was not building looms, but that Worcester 
would be a good place to have the looms built, and 
that Phelps & Bickford would be good parties to 
undertake their manufacture. 

Mr. Crompton came to Worcester and was intro- 
duced to Phelps & Bickford, who were then building 
plain looms. Phelps & Bickford made an arrange- 
ment with Mr. Crompton to build his looms upon a 
royalty, and continued doing so till the expiration of 
the patent. 

lu February, 1844, the mill at Northville, owned 
by Ichabod Washburn, F. W. Paine, G. A. Trum- 
bull, and occupied by William Crompton, was totally 
destroyed by fire. 

In 1848 William Crompton lived in Millbury, 
where he was engaged in the manufacture of woolen 
and cotton goods, and where he also had a machine- 
shop. April 12, 1848, he advertised to sell various 
kinds of tools used by him in the manufacture of 
machinery, as he had determined to confine himself 
to the manufacture of cotton and woolen goods. 

Mr. Crompton later removed to Connecticut, 
where his sou, George, worked in Colt's factory. 
The Crompton patent, meantime, had expired ; but 
it was renewed for seven years, and George Cromp- 
ton came to Worcester, and associated himself with 



WORCl'lSTKH 



23 



Merrill E. Purbush for the manuracture of looms, ' 
tirst locating in Merrifield's building, where they 
reniaine<l till llie fire of 18-")4. 

After oceupying for a short time ([iiarters in the 
wire-mill in CJrove Street, they hired the Red Jlill, 
near the foot of (Jreen Street, employing about fifty 
hands in the manufacture of the Croinpton loom. 

At this time William M. Hickrord, the succeiwor 
of I'helps A Bickford. employed twenty-three hands 
in the west wing of the Grove Street mill in building 
looms. 

August I, \x'<V, Furbush it C'rompton dissolved. 
Mr. Crompton continued the business, buying the 
Red Mill pruperly, and in l><i)<l erected a new build- 
ing, which W1U-. a substantial brick structure, one 
hundred and ten feet long by fifty feet deep, three 
stories high, besides the attic, exclusive of an ell for 
an engine-house. 

Mr. I'rompton at that time employed si.\ly hands, 
which number he expected to increase to eighty as 
soon as buildings could be erecteil. 

The successive improvements in the Crompton loom 
can best be given by a quotation from an interesting 
pamphlet on that subject, published by the Cromp- 
ton Loom Works in 1881 : " Furbush & Crompton 
made narrow looms from 18.">1 to 1S.57, when they 
brought out a fast-operating, Broad fancy loom, with 
improvemeriLs in box-motion. Broad looms, uj) to 
this period, operated at about 4.3 picks; the new 
1837 Broad looms, with twenty-four harnesses and 
three boxes at each end, reached a sjteed of 80 picks 
per minute. This wan a great stride in production; 
no advance has been so great since then. The nar- 
row fancy cassimere loom, with three boxes at one 
end, up to this lime had not obtained the speeil of 
85 picks per minute ; but with important improve- 
ments in the reveriie motion, the simplification of 
devices for operating the lays by means of the ordi 
nary cranks, the use of the ordinary narrow shuttle 
ami the reduction of the size of the shed made a fast 
ccimomical Broad power-loom of 8.") picks a possi- 
bility. One weaver conid attend one Broad loom as 
readily as one narrow; therefore 'broads' at once 
came into favor and use, and the comparative exclu- 
sion of narrow looms was foreseen. 

" Furbush i<£ ( 'romplon built looms until 18"i!t, when 
the partnership wsm dissolved. The patents granted to 
and owned by the firm were in part for improvements 
in double reverse motion, E. W. Brown's invention, 
of which they were the sole owners ; said patents 
were by mutual agreement territorially ilivided — the 
New F.ngland States ami the .'^liite of .New York to 
Crompton, and the remainder of the country to Fur- 
bush. and by said agreement Furbush was debarreil 
from making looms of any kind whatever in Cromp- 
ton's territory.'' 

In December, 18(50, William .M. liiikford mr)ved bin 
factory to Kxchange Street, in .Merrifield's building, 
where he was prepared to build all kinds of Crompton 



looms and other fancy looms, broad and narrow. This 
led to a lawsuit which resulted in Bickford's being 
found to be an infringer of the Crompton patents, 
tjn his death, in isr,3, the business went out of exist- 
ence, the patterns being sold to the Crompton Loom 
Works. Various improvements, many of them pat- 
ented, have been made from time to time, Mr. 
Crompton having taken out over one hundred patents 
in (he Uniteil States, besidea a large number in for- 
eign countries. .V number of patents have also been 
taken out by Mr. Horace Wynian, superintendent for 
many years of the C'rompton Loom Works. 

The Crompton Loom Works have thus grown until 
it is one of the largest niauufiictnring establishments 
in \\'orccster. 

.Mr. CJeorge Crompton died ISSiJ, and the business 
Wijs incorporated .lanuary, ISSH, with the following 
officers: M. C. Crompton, president; Horace Wy- 
man, vice-president and manager; Justin A.Ware 
secretary and treasurer. 

Mr. L. ,J. Ivnowle-s wits born in Hardwick, July 2, 
\x\\\ and was, in I.s;iii, clerk in a store in Shrews- 
bury. 

In June, 1842, we liiul the following notice: 
" We were shown some miniatures ,aken by Mr. 
Knowles at his room in Brinlcy Row, which we think 
f(jr beauty, boldness and distinctness, exceed any- 
thing we have seen." 

In February, 184.'i, L. .1. Knowles iV I'o., in con- 
nection with their daguerreotype business, advertise to 
do electro-gilding and silver-plating. 

In 1844 Sumner Pratt lease<l a portion of one of iMr. 
Curtis' buildings, at New W<ircester, for the manu- 
facture of cotton sewing-thread. Mr. Knowles and a 
Mr. Hapgoo<l had quarters in the same building, 
and purcha.sed thread of Mr. I'ratt, which they 
spooled and put on the market. 

In 1847 Mr. Knowles commenced the manufacture 
of cotton warp at Spencer, and in 1840 removed to 
Warren. Duringlhe years I8.'i.')to 18oS he w:isengage<l 
in the manufacture (d' satinets in Warren, and made 
some improvements on the looms he was then run- 
ning, for two of which he took out patents in isr)() — 
one for a close shed cam-jack for harness motion, and 
the other for separate picker for each cell in the drop- 
shuttle box. In 1S.37 he constructed a drop-box 
mechanism, for operating drop-boxes by means ol 
cranks set at the opposite extremes of their throw, 
under the direction of a pattern-chain, or its ei|Uiva- 
lent. This was the germ of the mechanism of the 
fancy loom, which has developed by successive stages 
into the loom as built by the Knowles Loom Works 
at the preitent day. 

L.J. Knowles and his brother ( F. B. Knowles) be- 
gan the manufacture of looms for sale under the tirm- 
name of L. .1. Knowles iNc Brother, at Warren, Mass., 
in 18(12, and the first looms were made for honp-skirt 
tapes, with woven pocket for the wires, ami for bind- 
I ings, tapes, etc. The loom was patented in ISUH. 



24 



MANUFACTURES. 



This branch of tlie business coiitiiiuetl till the fall of 
1866, when the company removed to Worcester, 
Mass., occupying Dr. Sargent's Block — Allen's Court. 
During 1866 the company began the manufacture of 
cam-looms for satinets, doeskins and other plain 
goods, and |)atented a cam harness motion for this 
loom in Novendjer, 1866. 

In 1868 they began to make these looms with drop- 
boxes at each end, so as to use dift'erenl colors of fill- 
ing for checks, plaids, etc. In 1871 they began to 
make the drop-box loutns, with chain or fancy har- 
ness motion, so as to extend the range of looms 
according to ihe requirements of the patterns. Out 
of this grew the fancy woolen loom of the present 
style, the first one of which was built in 1872, and 
sold to the Jamesville Mills, of this city. 

In the spring of 18715 the first broad loom ol' this 
style was made from new and heavy patterns, and 
from that time many thousands have been built for 
the woolen-mills of the country. This loom was 
patented in 1873. Meantime, the loom business had 
grown so that in 1876 from seventy-five to one hun- 
dred men were employed. The loom was shown at 
the Centennial Exhibition at I'hiladelphia, and as a 
result won for itself a wide reputation. A forty har- 
ness loom wiis made in 1S7(), and the first one was 
shown at this exhibition, and a number of them were 
sold. 

In 1879 the business had grown to such proportions 
that it wius necessary to have more room, and the 
company, in October of that year, moved t(j what was 
known as the Junction shop, where the business has 
continued till the present time, and preparations are 
being made for the erection of a much larger factory, 
in order that proper facilities may be secured for the 
rapidly increasing demands of the business. 

In 1884 Mr. L. .1. Knowles died very suddenly, in 
Washington, and the business was conducted by the 
surviving brother, Mr. F. H. Knowles, until the 1st of 
January, J885, when a stock company was formed 
under the name of the Knowles Loom Works, with 
Mr. F. B. Knowles as president, which has continued 
the business under the same general management. 
In lS8r) the company brought out a very heavy loom 
of thirty harness capacity for weaving worsted goods, 
which has been very largely introduced. Of this loom 
they have built and delivered the largest single order 
for heavy woolen looms ever given in this country, 
namely — ^two hundred and four looms for the River- 
side and Oswego Mills, of Providence, Iv. I. 

The old hoop-skirt loom has gradually develo|)ed 
into a loom for silk ribbons, suspenders, bindings and 
all kinds of narrow goods, with great success. 

Within a few years the company has perfected and 
put upon the market looms for weaving fiannels, dress- 
goods, fancy cottons, etc., and large numbers of them 
have been put into the best mills. 

They have also recently brought out various looms 
designed for gros-graius, satins and the various kinds 



of silk goods, plain or fancy; also coverings for up- 
holstery work, portieres, draperies, etc., for silk vel- 
vets, mohairs and silk plushes; and have probably 
made the widest looms for fly shuttles ever made, 
having a reed space of two hundred and thirty-six 
inches. 

They have also introduced, within a few years, a 
[wwer-loom for ingrain carpets, many of which are 
now running in the best carj)et-mills in the country, 
and are giving perfect satisfaction. 
• All the Knowles looms are built on the open shed 
principle, which is their distinctive feature. 

The value of the Knowles loom has also been re- 
cognized in Europe, and elsewhere, where it is being 
largely introduced by Messis. Hutchinson, Hollings- 
worth & Co., of Dobcross, England, who are building 
them in large numbers and already have several thou- 
sands of them in successful operation. 

The Gilbert Loom Oompany, Charles W. Gilbert, 
proprietor, was established in 1861), and is situated at 
18(> Union and 33 North Foster Streets, Worcester. 
They employ about fifty hands, using steam-power 
from a ninety horse-power engine, and are building 
looms and machinery as follows : 

Looms for the weaving of tapestry, Brussels and 
velvet carpets, mohair and cotton plushes, fancy 
woolen (twenty-tour harness, four drop boxes) for 
woolen and worsted goods. Fancy cotton looms, 
gingham looms, coach lace looms, satinet flannel, 
blanket, jean and cassimere looms, gunny cloth and 
pine fibre looms, tape and narrow wire looms for No. 
20 and finer wine, cam looms for chairs and car-seats, 
heavy looms for cotton duck and belting, needle 
looms for wipers and sugar strainers ; and, in addi- 
tion to looms, they also build yarn-printing drums 
and belting frames for tapestry and velvet carpets, 
cop winders for jute, wool, linens and cotton, yarn 
spoolers, mill shafting, gear cutters and harne.ss 
frames ; ihey are also designers and builders of looms 
for new and special purposes. 

In 1854 Rodney A. N. Johnson & Co., composed of 
Mr. .lohnson and Daniel Tainter, manufactured spin- 
ning machinery for wool carding machines, pickers, 
twisters, spools, bobbins, boring machines, card cloth- 
ing, etc., at Merrifield's Steam Mill. 

In 1850 Fox & Rice manufactured fancy cassimercs 
on the stream at the junction of Green and Water 
Streets, employing two hundred hands and manufac- 
turing fifty thousand yards of cloth monthly. Daniel 
Tainter, at the same time, employed thirty hands in 
Union Street in the manufacture of wool-carding 
machines and jacks. 

The business now conducted by the Cleveland Ma- 
chine Works Company, the well-known builders of 
woolen machinery, located at 54 Jackson Street, was 
established in January, 1860, by Mr. E.C.Cleveland, 
who commenced the manufacture of woolen machin- 
ety in Central Street in what was then known as 
Armsby's building. He manufactured cloth dryers. 



AVOROKSTKR. 



25 



hydro-extractors, cloth-brushing uiachiiies, jacks, 
presses, rulling-iiiills uiui wiushniills, and continued 
in this business until early in IS*i:{, when, in addition 
to the abovenaiueil luadiines, lie buil' the tirst set 
of the well-known Cleveland ranis, which are nseil 
for converting wool into roving previous to spinning, 
These cards were sold Id Messrs. Howe & .lefl'erson, 
of JefTeninnville, and are now running in (he mill id' 
the Jelferson Manufacturing Company, and doing 
good work after twenty-.-ix years of service. 

About this time the late .lohti C. Mason ami Mr. .1. 
M. Bassett were admitted tci the linn. They, alter 
several years, withdrew, and Mr. Cleveland continued 
the business until his death, which occurred .\pril 28, 
1871. Since the buihling of the first set of cards 
hundreds of sets, with improvements from lime to 
time, have been built, and are now in successful op- 
eration in lirst-class mills. 

Since the death of Mr. Cleveland the Mrm has been 
managed by Mr. S. W. (loddard, who has introduced 
many new machines and many improvements in the 
machines made previously. They now manufacture 
about fit'ty machines for ditfcrent uses in woolen 
mills, making a specialty of all kinds of cards for 
wool, worsted, felt and shoddy; also twisting; roving, 
spooling, picking, drj'ing and cloth finishing machin- 
ery. The product is sold ihroughoul the United 
States, Canada and Me.\ico. 

[n February, ISti3, the late Hon. Isaac Davis sold 
the lower .liinclion sh"i>, built by E\\ Thayer in IS-">4 
for gun work, and used in ISiil for .soldiers' barracks 
with twelve acres of land, to Jordan, Marsh & Co., of 
Boston, who intended to convert it into a woolen- 
mill, with sixteen sets of machinery, making it one 
of the largest woolen-mills in the State. This shop 
wa-s tir-'t known :ui the South .Function shop ; later, 
as the Pistol Shop Barracks and Adriatic Mills. 
Jordan i% Marsh made extensive improvements. 
The main building was four hundred feet long, forty 
feet wide ami two stories high. The second floor 
was devoted to carding and spinning, and was ar- 
ranged for twelve sets of cards and twenty packs ol 
four thousaiKl eight hundred spindles. The first tloor 
was for finishing and weaving ; the weaving all to be 
done by looms ma<le by <reorge Crompton, of Wor- 
cester. The main belt wius one hundred and fourteen 
feet long, and thirty inche- wiile, double tlirouglioiit, 
and made at the shop of (iraton t^ Kiiiglit in I'Voni 
Street. Particular attention was called to this, as 
showing that the equipment of a woolen factory could 
be prfK-Mired in Worcester ; the cards, jacks, dryers, 
dressers, extractors, hyilraulic presses, etc., were fur- 
nished by the Clevehiiul Company. 

This mill is now owned by the Won-c-sler Woolen 
Company, incorprirated in IHKI. The building is now 
five hundred and eighty-two feet long, forty-two 
wide, two wings — one seventy-two by sixty, the other 
ninety by fifty-six. The number of the hands, at the 
beginning two hundred, is now two bun<lre<l and 



thirty. They have thirteen sets of cards, fifly-eight 
broad and two narrow looms, ancl twenty Bancroft 
operators. They make fine woolens, cassimeres ami 
suitings, and (irodncc from live thousand to eight 
thousand yards per week, the annual sales amounting 
to six hundreil thousanil dollars. The present pro- 
prietors, the Messrs. I..egg, came from Rhode Island. 
March, IJSSl, James Legg, Jr , became the owner of 
the mill, and it was run under the name of Jame.s 
Legg, Jr., & Co., until July, I.SSl, when the present 
linn, .lames \- .lolin l.cgg, succeeded. 

] The Alma Woolcn-.Mills, in (ireen Street, employ 

1 two hundred hands in the manufacture of fancy 
cassimeres and suitings, running fifty-nine looms and 
eight sets of cards with attendant machinery. 

The firm of .lohnson it Hasscti, manufacturers of 
self-operating mules and jacks, was established in 

I 1870. 

In 18t)8-t)l) experiments looking towards making 
the jacks self-ojierating were going on in several 
parts of the country, and were being conducted in the 
shop of Cleveland ili Bassctt, in Worcester, by Edward 
Wright. 

The failure of Cleveland & Bassett in the (all of 
18()!l brought Mr. Wright's experiments in their 

I works to an end, but he arranged to goon with John- 
son & Co., jack builders, and .July 1, 1870, the copart- 
nership WiLS formed between .lolinson & Hassett. The 
first self-open. ting allachmeiit for Jacks of their make 
was put at work in the mill of .John Chase i*c Sons, 
at Webster, in .1870, since which time Johnson & 
Bassett have built up an extensive business in the 

' manufacture and sale of self operating heads for 
application to hand-jacks, sell-operating jacks com- 
plete with heads, and self-operating mules. The 
business was located in the .Merrilield Buildings, 
180 Union Street, until October 1, 188li, when it was 
removed to Mr. Bassett's new building, corner of 
Foster and Bridge Streets. 

The Crompton Carpet t/umpany was organ- 
ized iji 1870 by George (/'romplon, who, with the 
superintendent, Horace Wymari, invented and pat- 
ented a loom for weaving Brus.sels carpels by power, 
there being at that time no power loom for that pur- 
pose, except the Bigelow loom and two makes of Jlng- 
lish looms, the right to use which could not be ob- 
tained in this i-ouulry. The manul'aclurc of Brussels 
carpels, therefore, was conliiieil to llie Bigelow Com- 
pany at Clinton, and the greater part of the carpets 

, used in the United States was imported from Kng- 
land, and a high price was conse(|Uenlly maintained. 
Mr. Crompton associated with himself in the enter- 
prise Dr. .loscph Sargent, William Ooas, Horac'e 

I Wyman, W. W. Kice, William H. .lourdan and Cal- 
vin KoHler — < ieorgc Crompton being president of the 
company ; William ('ross, treaiurer; .loseph Sargent, 
Jr., agent, and .M. .1. Whitall, superintendent. After 
the death of .Mr. Cross, .foseph Sargent, .Ir., was 

I elected treasurer. 



36 



MANUFACTURES. 



They commenced ojienitions with sixteen looms of 
Crompton make. The Victory was located in South 
Worcester and was a two-story building, French roof, 
115x(!0, run I>y water-power, the amount being esti- 
mated at onehundred horse-power. In 1871 a dye-house 
was added to the mill (which stood near the site of 
the old White & Boyden mill, Imrned August, 186.3, 
and referred to previously). This enterprise was the 
beginning of the general manufacture of Brussels 
carpets in this country. Other companies were soon 
formed, the restrictions were removed from the sale 
of the English-made looms, and, in consequence, the 
price of carpets rapidly declined from three dol- 
lars per yard in 1870 to one dollar per yard in 1879. 

The company started with one hundred and fifty 
thousand dollars capital, and, before their operations 
ceased, had increased the number of their looms from 
sixteen to thirty-six, and continued until 1879, when 
the machinery was sold to W. J. Hogg, Sr., of Phila- 
del[)liia, and later the building containing the carpet 
machinery was leased to Mr. Hogg. 

The Packachoag Worsted and Yarn-Mill was built 
and owned by Mr. George Crompton. This mill was 
near the Crompton Carpet (.Company, and was managed 
by Joseph Sargent, Jr. In the yarn-mill they started 
with twenty-four spinning frames and accompanying 
machinery ; later, Mr. Crompton built another yarn- 
mill adjoining the fir.-it. The first Packachoag Mill 
was burned in 1884; loss, one hundred and eighty-one 
thousand two hundred and seventy-five dollars. 
After the fire Mr. Crompton sold the laud and the 
ruins of the Packachoag Mill in i)art to Jlr. M. .1, 
Whitlall and in part to William .lames Hogg, .(r. 

Mr. Whittall, who was superintendent of the 
C'rompton C!arpet-Mill from the commencement of 
business, was from Stourport, England, where he was 
manager of the Severn Valley Carpet Works of Faw 
cett & Spurway. In 1879 Mr. Whittall returned to 
England, and while there purchased eight Crossley 
Carpet Looms. He brought these to this country, 
and began to operate them in a building leased of 
the Wicks Manufacturing Company. In 1882 an- 
other story was added, and Mr. AVhittall added eight 
more carpet-looms; but business increasing, more 
room was needed, and he determined to erect a 
building for himself; and in 1888 bought of Mr. 
Crompton a piece of land facing Mr. t^rompton's 
original carpet-mill, and erected a building one hun- 
dred and seventy-five by sixty feet, two stories in 
height. This mill was finished during that year, and 
the machinery from the Wicks building, together 
with fourteen new carpet-looms, was put into opera- 
tion. In 1884 ail extension was added, together with 
twelve looms, making forty-two in all. 

It will be recollected that Mr. Whittall had pur- 
chased part of the land and all of the buildings that 
remained of the Packachoag Mill property, and on , 
this spot he erected another carpet-mill, and also i 
repaired the old yarn-mill, engine-house, etc. In ' 



this new mill he had seventeen new looms, making 
fifty-nine carpet-looms in use in his business. He 
manufactures six-frame and five-frame Wilton and 
body Brussels carpets, and employs about three hun- 
dred and twenty hands. 

In 1884 Mr. Hogg built a yarn-mill on part of the 
land he had purchased of Mr. Crompton, on the site 
of the first Packachoag Spinning-Mill, and has con- 
tinued to run it up to the present time. This build- 
ing was one hundred by sixty feet. The last mill 
built has seventeen looms, making in both of his 
mills fifty-three looms, which he runs at the present 
time, employing about three hundred and twenty 
hands. 

Mr. Whittall is the largest individual manufac- 
turer of Wilton and Brussels carpets in the United 
States. Mr. W. J. Hogg is the second largest. 

The manufacture of thread has been conducted in 
Worcester for over twenty years. This is a most 
favoralile place for this industry, because of the ex- 
cellent shipping facilities, and the fact that the Wor- 
cester Bleach & Dye Works — one of the best dye- 
houses in the country — is located here. 

Thread was first manufactured in Worcester in 
18().'). The business w-as discontinued from 1879 till 
1881, since which time it has been a rapidly-growing 
industry. The Glasgo Thread Company, so called by 
reason of the fact that this company controls a spin- 
ning-mill at (ilasgo, Conn., was incorporated in 
March, 1883, and for a time the business was con- 
ducted in Foster Street, in the building of Charles 
F5aker. In 188-5 the company removed to Beacon 
.Street, where it is now located. The average daily 
production, at the present time, is four thousaiul 
dozen of two hundred yards. 

The process of manufacture is most interesting, and 
con.sisls in carding cotton until the fibres lie paral- 
lel to each other ; the loose rolls are then taken to 
the drawing-machine, which consists of a series of 
rolls, each set revolving faster than the preceding, 
which reduces the strand to the required degree of 
fineness. The strands are repeatedly united and re- 
duced. This process is called " doubling," and en- 
sures a uniform, strong and perfect product. 

The united threads, which are called " slivers," are 
then spun into a single thread on a mule. After 
being dyed the skeins are subjected to the operation 
of drying, and are then put upon spools for finishing 
by saturating with sizing, and then passing over 
rapidly revolving brushes. 

Important improvements have been made in thread 
machinery since the introduction of its manufacture 
in this city ; the most important is the automatic 
winder, with which the operator can wind from two 
to foui; times as much, and with less exertion, than 
he could formerly do by hand. The automatic ma- 
chine is set to wind any number of yards the opera- 
tor may desire. 

The Cilasgo Thread Company was the first to in- 



WORCESTER. 



27 



troduce fine Sea Island thread upon iiound spools. 
Formerly only the small spools were used, but now 
almost any size may be found, from two hundred to 
thirty thousand yards, whivh hasled to a considerable 
saving to the consumer. The greater part of the 
thread used by the manufacturing trade is put up on 
large spools holding from si.x thousand to thirty thou- 
sand yards. 

The Ruddy Thread Company, manufacturers of all 
grades of cotton thread — principally for the manufac- 
turing trade, sewing-machines, corset-works and shoe 
manul'actorifs, was established in 1887, and is located 
at 7.5 Central Street, under the management of Mr. 
Robert Ruddy. 

C. H. Hutchins & Co., 2 Allen Court, e.stablished 
in 1870, manufacture elastic and non-elastic webs for 
suspenders and stocking-supporters, also spool tapes, 
used by cotton and woolen manufacturers to tie up 
their goods. The material used is cotton and rubber, 
the rubber being woven in process of manufacture. 
The looms are the Knowles fancy loom, one of which 
will weave twenty-five hundred yards per day. 

The L. D. Thayer Manufacturing Company, in the 
building formerly occupied by Ethan Allen. Estab- 
lishel in 1878, and minufactures tapes, bindings, gal- 
loons and webbings, and operates sixty-eight looms. 

A. O. Hildreth, in Stevens' Block, manufactures 
overalls, pants, shirts, butchers' frocks, etc., employs 
("•irty-five hands, using sixteen sewing-machines. In 
1887 three hundred and twenty-five thousand yards of 
cloth were cut up, and in 1888 five hundred thousand 
yards. 

The Holland Hosiery Company, established in 
Hallowell, Me., in 188.3, moved to Worcester in 1886, 
and manufactures seamless half hose. 

The Worcester Felting Company, in Foster Street, 
do a large business in the manufacture of linings, 
upholstery, saddlery felts, petershams, rubber-boot 
and shoe linings and trimming felts. 

George L. Urownell manufactures improved twist- 
ing machinery of his own invention for laying hard 
and sf>ft twines, lines and cordage. 

The Carroll Machine and .Spindle Works manu- 
facture machinery for twinting yarns. 

Among the smaller manufactures connected with 
textile fabricH, but none the less important, may be 
mentioned the improved loom-reeds, manufactured by 
M. riace & Co., whose businewt was originally CHlab- 
lishcd bySila.H Dinsmorc in 1840. 

William H. Urown, 81 Mechanic Street, manufac- 
tures a number of ingenious tools for the use of card- 
ers. This business was established in 18.>5. 

In 1876, Mr. B. S. Roy, now located at 7.5 Beacon 
Street, began the manufacture of card-grindent, for ; 
grinding card-clothing, all his machines being of 
his own invention. Mr. Roy was formerly superin- 
tendent in a cotton-mill, and, recognizing the neces- 
'•ity of a belter method for grinding tlir carrl-clothing, | 
engaged in his present liimiiw«» Tin- <>lil method i 
3 



of grinding cards was by spreading emery on a board, 
which was rubbed back and forth over the ends of 
the wires, thus sharpening the teeth. This process 
was called by the English " strapping '" or " strick- 
ling"' the cards. 

The next improvement was the construction of a 
machine, with a cylinder covered with emery, but 
with no traverse wheel. This method of grinding 
teeth made them uneven. In Mr. Roy's improve- 
ment, the traverse wheel runs with an endless chain 
back and forth on the cylinder over the teeth of the 
card with a rotary motion. These machines are sold 
in this country, South America, Mexico, Canada, 
England and Ireland. 

J. H. Whittle, established in 1880, manufactures 
tin spindles for mules, spinning-frames, drawing-cans, 
filling-boxes, condenser-rolls, slasher-cylinders, dry- 
ing-cans, etc., rubber-rolls for woolen-cards, and im- 
mersion-rolls of copper. 



CHAPTER IV. 

M.\XUrACTfRING AND MECHANICAL INDUSTRIES. 
Foundritt — ^fachinUt*^ T"oh — Atfrieultttntl Imptfintntt—Wreiiehei. 

Foi'simiES. — Mr. William A. Wheeler was one of 
the oldest iron founders in the State, having begun 
in 1812; he moved from Hardwick to Brookfield, and 
from the latter place came to Worcester in 1823 and 
established a blacksmith's business at the corner of 
Thomas and Union Streets. Among other pieces of 
work he made the doors of the Court-IIouse in Wor- 
cester. This blacksmith's shop wa.s on the site of the 
foundry. In 182.'i Mr. Wheeler, in company with 
George T. Rice, H. W. Miller and A. D. Foster, under 
the name of William A. Wheeler & Co., made all 
kinds of castings, fire-proof book-cases and doors. To 
run a fan for his cupola-furnace, Mr. Wheeler had 
the first steam-engine, or one of the first ever oper- 
ated in Worcester. In 182(') ilie business passed under 
the control of the Worcester it Brookfield Iron 
Foundry, which had furnaces in both places. 

Daniel Heywood A: Co. furnished at this time all 
kinds of castings. The demand appears to have been 
considerable, for in 1827 Washburn & Ooddard re- 
ceived orders for machine castings made at Stafford, 
Conn. 

In 1828 Sumner Smith (Worcester Iron Foundry) 
put a furnace in blast near the paper-mill of Elijah 
Iturbank, at Quin^igamond, and had for sale every 
description of iron castings, cast-iron plows, stoves, 
cauldron kettles, hollow-ware, oven frames. Darby's 
patent wheel-boxes. In IK.'t.'l the Worcester Iron 
Foundry removed from Qiiitisigamnnd to the first 
mill privilege north of .Main Street, one mile from 



28 



MANUFACTURES. 



the Court-House, on the Worcester road leading to 
West Boylston. 

In 1831 or 1832 Mr. Wheeler returned to Worcester 
and reorganized his shop, abandoned the steam-en- 
gine which he had previously put in, and substituted 
horse-power, and continued to do a constantly in- 
creasing business until the foundry was enlarged, 
about 1840, when another steam-engine was added 
and a machine shop attached. The castings were 
made for the iron-workers and tool-makers in the 
city, and comprised castings for heavy gearing, be- 
sides a variety of other work, including heavy sheet- 
iron work, fire-proof safes, mill-iroos, water-wheel 
irons, cages, coupling-boxes, plow-castings, patent 
ovens, ash-holes, boiler-doors and pipe-boxes; factory 
shafting was also turned. 

About the time his machine-shop was started Mr. 
Wheeler procured an iron planer, to be run by hand. 
This was the first iron planer in Worcester, or in the 
State. It would weigh about one hundred and fifty 
pounds, and was three and one-half feet high. The 
bed was four feet long and twenty inches wide. 

Mr. Wheeler designed the first boring-machine in 
Worcester, and in 1838 got out patterns for cook- 
stoves, box-stoves for heating, and manufactured 
them, and in 1842 invented a furnace for heating 
buildings with wood or coal. 

In 1838 he started the manufacture of brass cast- 
ings for general use. 

When Mr. Wheeler commenced business he made 
five hundred or six hundred pounds of castings per 
day, and increased until his daily production was 
ten tons. He began with three or four men, and in 
the height of his prosperity employed two hundred. 

In 1852 Mr. Wheeler's son (Charles) became inter- 
ested in the business at Thomas Street, and when 
William A. Wheeler died, in 1873, it p.issed into the 
hands of William F. Wlieeler, and finally to the 
Wheeler Foundry Company, which remained at the 
old location for a time, and then moved to 138 
Mechanic Street, where the business has been located 
for seventeen years, employing about ninety men, 
largely in making castings for wire and rolling-mill 
machinery and for general purposes. 

In 1843 the Washington Square Iron and Rra.ss 
Foundry, built by A. A. Trask, was operated by S. 
Trask & Co. in the manufacture of cauldron-kettles, 
stoves, oven-doors, ash-pits, etc., and in 1843 a new 
foundry was built near the Boston and Worcester 
Railroad by Henry P. Howe, and was occupied by 
George Goodnow in the manufacture of iron, cojjper, 
brass and composition castings. 

In 1847 Oliver K. Earle built a foundry on the 
corner of Canal and Foundry Streets. He sold out to 
A. B. Chaffee in 1848, who took Jason Chapin into 
company the same year. They started in business to 
supply Howe & Goddard with their brass castings. 
In 1852 Chapin purchased Chaft'ee's interest, and in 
1853 built a shop in Manchester Street, where he con- 



tinued until 1859, when he built the shop in Summer 
Street, where he continued until 1887, when he sold 
out to Mr. L. H. Wells. 

In 1849 Fitch & Jones made castings in iron and 
brass, and were succeeded in 1850 by E. & D. H. 
Fitch & Co. 

In August, 1850, McFarland & Bisco, of Leicester, 
started in the malleable iron business, which was 
continued in 1851 by Wood, McFarland & Co. They 
occupied the building known as the Arcade, formerly 
known as "The Old Brewery," near the Western 
depot. Here, with one air furnace and two small 
annealing furnaces, they commenced the making of 
malleable castings for guns, carriages, harness 
buckles, wrenches and parts of cotton and woolen 
machinery, previously made of wrought iron. At 
this time there was but one other malleable iron 
foundry in the Stale, which was located at Easton. 
The process of malleable iron founding is different 
from that of ordinary casting. The purpose to 
which the product is applied requires a greater de- 
gree of tensile strength and tenacity in the materials 
and a closer attention to all the details. Instead of 
placing the coal and pig-iron in the furnace together, 
the pig-iron is thrown into what is called the air fur- 
nace by itself and subjected to an intense heat; it is 
then drawn out and poured into moulds, in which 
state the metal is very hard and brittle ; it is then 
packed in an annealing furnace and subjected to 
strong heat for about nine days and nights, when the 
furn.aces are opened and the pots cooled; the iron is 
then unpacked and cleaned ready for delivery, when 
it has both fineness of grain and great toughness. 

The old firm of Wood, McFarland & Co. remained 
in business but a short time; their interest was 
taken by Warren McFarland, who continued with a 
silent partner until 1877, when he became the sole 
owner. 

From one air furnace and two annealing furnaces 
the plant was increased until it had two air furnaces 
and six annealing furnaces. 

In 1880 Mr. George B. Buckingham, who had 
been connected with Mr. McFarland since 1873, 
took charge of the works, Mr. McFarland remain- 
ing connected with it till his death, in 1884. 

In December, 1886, Mr. Buckingham purchased the 
property of the Worcester Malleable Iron Foundry, 
that being the second known by this name, which 
had been run about three years, and has since been 
run as the Worcester Malleable Iron Works, giving 
the two plants, now under one management, a 
capacity of three air furnaces and nine annealing 
furnaces. 

The line of goods now made includes different 
parts of agricultural implements, guns, pistols, sew- 
ing-machines, cotton and woolen machinery, in fact, 
all parts of machines or tools where strength and 
lightness are combined. The use of malleable iron 
and steel castings, which are now made by the above 



WOKCESTER. 



29 



work:), is largely owing to the reasonable price in 
comparison with furgings, as odd shapes can be more 
easily produced tban by the forge. 

The second malleable iron foundry, known as the 
Worcester Malleable Iron Foundry, was started in 
Manchester Street, by Waite, Chadsey & Co., in 
1852. 

In 1857 Oliver K. Earle, who had previously been 
in the lumber business, was admitted into partner- 
ship with Fitch & Jones, who continued business at 
the Union Street Foundry (pre.teni site of Rice, Bar- 
ton & Fales) and also at the Junction Foundry in 
Southbridgc Street. After Mr. Eiirle's death, Wilhird 
Jones, Wood & Light, Richardson, Merriani & Co. suc- 
ceeded ; it was then taken by Mr. Otis Warren, the 
present proprietor, who has controlled it for the last 
fourteen years. The first work done at this foundry 
was the manufacture of the iron-work for the front 
of Foster's Block, at the corner of Main and Pearl 
Streets. 

Caleb & J. A. Colvin commenced the foundry 
business atDanielsonville, Conn., in 1863, where they 
manufactured stoves and machinery castings. In 
l.Si>5 Caleb sold his interest to his brother and moved 
to Worcester, where he bought and built his plant 
in Gold Street. 

The business increasing, J. A. Colvin moved to 
Worcester, and a new partnership was formed, which 
continued until 1880, when J. A. Colvin built his 
present foundry in Jackson Street. His principal 
work is for the loom companies, and largely for the 
Knowles Loom Works. He employs about ninety 
bands. 

Since 1880 Mr. Caleb Colvin has more than 
doubled his capacity for doing work. He employs 
ninety hands, and has a capacity of three hundred 
tons per month, almost entirely used in the city, and 
largely by the makers of woolen machinery, machin- 
ists' tools and wood-working machinery. 

Heald & Brittan built on Foundry Street about 
18G6, and made iron castings. They removed from 
there to Thomas Street Foundry, when the Wheeler 
Foundry Company moved to Mechanic Street. This 
foumlry afterwards came into the possession of the 
Holyoke Machine Company. 

L. H. Wells and Herbert M. Rice began business 
January 1, 1807, in North Foster Street. Mr. Wells 
learned his trade of Jason Cliapin, and wiui subse- 
quently foreman of the late George Crompton's foun- 
dry, in Green Street. Mr. Wells jjurcliaiied Mr. 
Kicc'd interest in September, 1809, and in 1H77 in- 
vented his bronze metal, largely and successfully 
used for bearing*. By the use of chemicals the oxi- 
dation of the tin, one of the ingredient*, is prevented ; 
the metal is ten per cent, denser than the ordinary 
bronze, and of a very firm, tou^'h structure. In 18s7 
Mr. Wells purchased the Cliapiii Foundry in .Sum- 
mer Street, to which he has removed. Mr. Wells has 
the largest set of furnm-o' i>i >li-city; his castings 



are cleaned by power in a large water rumble, a hol- 
low cylinder, which makes ninety revolutions per 
minute, and emery wheels are used for smoothing the 
castings. 

The process of casting is simple, and consists of 
melting the metal in crucibles, which are made of 
plumbago, and then turning the molten metal into 
moulds. When taken out they are cleaned and fin- 
ished. 

Prespey Pero, located in Herraon Street, manufac- 
tures machinery and tool castings, and makes a spe- 
cialty of liglit castings; was established in 1*>77. His 
business has grown from employing three or four men 
until he now employs forty-five. 

The Star Foundry was established in 1880 by 
George Crorapton, and started with forty men. Dou- 
ble that number are now employed on all kinds of 
work, including sleani-engines, machinists' tools and 
castings for building purposes, although the prin- 
cipal product is loom castings for the Crompton 
Loom Works. 

Luther Shaw & Son do a business in brass cast- 
ing, and manufacture Babbitt metal and solder, also 
all kinds of brass composition, zinc, lead and white 
metal castings. They also make gong-liells, faucets 
and copper castings. Their product is sold through- 
out New England, and some of it in New York 
State, but the bulk of it is used in this city and 
county. The metals used are principally copper, tin 
and antimony. 

.Vrnold & Pierce, at the Hammond Street Foun- 
dry, established in 1882, began with «i.\ men, and 
now employ twenty-two. They manufacture cast- 
ings for the makers of machinists' tools. 

The firm of A. Kabley & Co., composed of A. Kab- 
ley, Alonzo Wbitoomb and F. E. Reed, located at 57 
Gold Street, started with fifteen men, and now em- 
ploy forty. They supply all the castings for the ma- 
chinists' tools of F. E. Reed and Alonzo Whitcomb 
& Co., besides some general work. 

Maciiinmsts' Tools. — The manufacture of ma- 
chinists' tools has, for many years, had a most promi- 
nent place among the industries of Worcester. To 
Samuel Flngg, or, as he wius more familiarly known, 
"Uncle Sammy Flagg," belongs the distinction of 
having first engaged in this business in Worcester, 
whither he came, from West Boylston, in 1839, to se- 
cure better facilities and to save cartage of castings 
which he used in his machine-shop in West Boylston, 
where he built tools and cotton machinery from pat- 
terns ma<le by William A. Wheeler. He made a 
turning-lathe, which was the first one Mr. Wheeler 
had when he started his machine-shop. The ways 
and frame of his machine were of wood, the head and 
tail-bo.x of ir')n. 

.Mr. Flagg hired room and power of Samuel Davis, 
the lessee of (.'ourt .Mills, ami there made hand and 
engine lathes. He had no planer when he com- 
menced, and at this time the planing of iron was 



30 



MANUFACTURES. 



looked upon as a remarkable accomplishment. The 
work was done by hand-chipping and filing, which 
was of necessity tedious and unsatisfactory. 

The old Court Jlills, located on Mill Brook, at the 
junction of Lincoln Square and what is now Union 
Street, was the cradle of the machinists' tools indus- 
try in Worcester, as it was of many others. 

Mr. Flagg started with eight or ten men, and every 
one thought that lie was visionary to expect to keep 
them occupied in building machinists' tools. He was 
the first man in Worcester to use a planer in this 
business. He commenced in Court Mills. Ruggles, 
Nourse & Mason, and Thomas Daniels, the inventor 
of the Daniels planer, were also tenants. Deacon 
Richard Ball waa at this time Mr. Daniels' foreman. 

In 1845 Thomson, Skinner & Co. succeeded to Mr. 
Flagg's business. They moved to Merrifield's build- 
ing, and, shortly before the fire of 1854, were absorbed 
by the New Haven Manufacturing Company, and 
removed from the city. Mr. Flagg continued without 
a competitor until Pierson Cowie started in the old 
Red Mill, the present location of the Crompton Loom 
AVorks. From there he removed to the then new 
building of Howe & Goddard, now Rice, Barton & 
Fales, in Foster Street, and thence into the building 
where W. T. Merrifield's engine is now located. 

In 1845 or 1846, Cowie made six iron-planing 
machines which were driven with a common log chain 
passing over a drum at each end of the machine. 
This arrangement was, in a few years, superseded by 
a rack and gears. 

He was succeeded in 1845 or 1846 by Woodburn, 
Light & Co., who, in 1851, moved to Estabrook's new 
building at the Junction, built by Charles Wood and 
Col. James Estabrook. Later the firm became Wood, 
Light & Co., and, in 1870, built the shop now occupied 
by Mciver Brothers, where they at one time did a 
very flourishing business, and had the best equipped 
shop in New England, employing one hundred and 
seventy-five men. They introduced greatly improved 
methods for turning shafting, increasing the amount 
from forty or fifty feet per day to three hundred feet. 
They also invented and manufactured bolt-cutting 
machines, the best then known. 

The building of railroads created an increased 
demand for machinists' tools, and in 1845, Samuel C. 
Coombs, a machinist in the employ of Phelps & Blck- 
ford, in company with R. R. Shepard and Martin 
Lathe, a wood-worker, in the same shop, formed a 
co-partnership under the style of S. C. Coombs & Co. 
They started in the Court Mills, then moved to Dr. 
Heywood's shop. Before they moved C. Wheelock 
was taken into partnership. From the Heywood shop, 
in Central Street, now used by the Harrington Broth- 
ers as a paint shop, they removed to the Estabrook 
shop, where they occupied room in the northern end of 
the building, where their successors, the Lathe & 
Morse Tool Co., continued until they moved to their 
o)vn building, in Gold Street, y?here they are now 



located. Their business from the start has been the 
manufacture of latbes and planers. They employ on 
an average about fifty hands, and their product goes 
all over the world. 

The first exhibit of machinists' tools was made by 
S. C. Coombs & Co., at the Mechanics' Exhibition 
held in September, 1851. The first exhibition of the 
Mechanics' Association was held in the City Hall, 
Tuesday, September 26, 1848, and the circular announ- 
cing it was signed by William B. Fox, William A. 
Wheeler, Ichabod Washburn, William N. Bickford, 
Freeman Upham, John Boyden and Samuel Davis. 

A. & S. Thayer began at Court Mills in 1845, where 
they employed ten men in the manufacture of engine 
lathes. These were an improvement upon the lathes 
then in use, and attracted much attention among 
machinists. 

A. & S. Thayer moved from Court Mills into Allen 
& Thurber's Pistol Shop, which stood just south of 
Merrifield's present engiue-house, and was burned in 
1854. 

They occupied the south-end basement, while 
Samuel Flagg & Co. occupied the north end. They 
afterwards moved into the Dr. Heywood building, in 
Central Street. While there, Sewall Thayer died. 
Upon his death, A. Thayer associated with him H. 
H. Houghton and E. C. Cleveland. They moved 
back into the pistol-shop, and remained in Union 
Street till the fire, when they removed to Washing- 
ton Street (present location of the Allen Boiler 
Works), and continued in business until 1857, when 
Mr. Cleveland retired. They continued the business 
at the Washington Street shop until the breaking 
out of the war, or a little later, and were employing 
about one hundred and fifty men, and making some 
of the finest tools in the country, when the business 
was bought by the New York Steam-Engine Com- 
pany, and continued a short time under that name, 
when it was moved to Passaic, N. J., and finally 
went out of existence. 

The firm of Samuel Flagg & Co. was organized in 
1847. Mr. Flagg associated with him Henry Hol- 
land and two of his former apprentices, — L. W. Pond 
and Ephraim H. Bellows. They started in the sec- 
ond floor of Heywood's building, in a room twenty 
feet by forty. They remained there but a short 
time, until Allen & Thurber's building was ready 
for tenants, when they moved into the north end ; 
they remained there until 1849, when Mr. William 
T. Merrifield put up his first brick building ; they 
then moved into the same location now occupied by 
the Wheelock Steam-Engine Company. Shortly be- 
fore the fire they took the whole basement, and were 
burned out in 1854, when they went into the lower 
floor of the Goddard & Rice factory in Union Street, 
where they remained until the Merrifield buildings 
were rebuilt, to which they returned, remaining until 
1861. 

Prior to this time Mr. Pond had bought out the 



WORCESTER. 



31 



others in interait. Meantime J. B. Lawrence, in 
18o4, built the east end of tlie building lately occu- 
pied by the Pond Machine Tool C')nip:iny. In 18l')l 
L. NV. Pond purchased this, and built the west end, 
and continued there until lS7o, when the business 
was continued by the Pond Machine Tool Company, 
which in 1S88 removed to Plaintield, K. J. While 
in Worcester, they maintained a high reputation for 
the quality of their work, excelling particularly in 
the production of large tools. 

The brothers, Carter VVhitcomb (who had been in 
the employ of Howe & Goddard) and Alonzo Whit- 
comb {who had been in the employ of S. C. Coombs 
& Co.) formed a copartnership under the name of 
Carter Whitcomb & Co., and began tlie manufacture 
of copying-presses, in lS4fl, in the Union Street shop 
of Howe & Goddard. They occupied room in Merri- 
field's shop prior to the fire of 1854, when they were 
burned out; they returned soon after the new build- 
ing was completed, and later went to the Estabrook 
building, and from there to the present location in 
Gold Street. 

This was the first successful attempt to establish in 
this country the business of manufacturing copying- 
presses. George C. Taft had previously begun the 
Hjanufacture, but continued only a short time, when 
it fell into the hands of the Messrs. Whitcomb. 
These presses have been sold throughout the coun- 
try, the sales, some years, amounting to five thousand 
presses. From the first this company has manufac- 
tured iron planers, and later commenced the manu- 
facture of shears and punchiug-machines. The iron 
planers first made very light and poorly constructed; 
the gears were cast, the cut-gear was unheard of. 
This company continues to make copying-presses, 
iron planers and shears for cutting iron plate for 
boilers, but their principal business ia in planers. 

In 1856 Samuel Flagg organized a Machinist Tool 
Company, composed of Samuel Flagg, Pierson Cowie, 
Pe-xter Flagg, Lemuel G. Mason and George H. 
Blanchard. They only continued in business a short 
time, but made at their shop, in Merrifield's build- 
ing, the largest lathe, with one exception, up to that 
time made in the country. It weighed about thirty- 
five tons; the length of the ways was (Ji'fty-fivc feel 
and width eight feet. They also engaged in the 
manufacture of machines for mortising iron, weigh- 
ing six tons each, some of which were made for the 
government. 

In the fall of 1864 Joseph A. Sawyer had a little 
shop in the building known as Hey wood's Boot Shop, 
in Main Street, for repair work and the manufacture 
of sewing and other machines; Hubse<|iicntly he re- 
moved to the second fioor of the l.'nion Water .Meter 
Shop in Hermon Street, where ho manufactured 
shafting, pulleys and friction pulleys. In the fall of 
1877 he built his present shop, one-story, forty by 
seventy two feet, and in 1881 he built two additional 
stories, to furnish room and power to let. Mr. 



Joseph A. Sawyer was the inventor of a machine for 
pleating cloth up to eighteen inches in width, which 
was sold to the Elm City Company, of New Haven, 
and is said to be the only practical pleating-machine 
ever invented. Mr. Sawyer invented many devices 
now used in boot and shoe factories. Since his 
death, in May, ISSS, the business has been continued 
by his son, who manufactures Sawyer's Combined 
Hand and Power Planer, and who also does a large 
business in lilting up corset and boot and shoe shops, 
putting up the stitching-raachines and keeping them 
in repair. Mr. Sawyer has made much automatic 
machinery used in the organ and reed business, and 
makes a specialty of difficult machines for special 
purposes. Their work is of a varied character, and 
much of it very delicate. 

Parritt Blaisdell, who was with Wood, Light & Co. 
for fifteen years, built a shop in Jackson Street in 
1865 and commenced the manufacture of machinists' 
tools, with four or five men. Afterwards he took 
into company John P.Jones, and in 1873 S. E. Ilil- 
dreth. >Ir. Blaisdell died in 1S74. His widow sold 
a part of his interest to Enoch Earle, and all of these 
partners are in the business at the present time. 
They have enlarged their shop and increased their 
business until at the present time they employ about 
one hundred men. 

W. F. Bancroft & Co., established in 1870 by Kent 
& Bancroft, make self-operating spinning machinery, 
lathes, planers and special machinery. 

William H. Eddy, manufacturer of machinists' 
tools, established 1873, manufactures planers, twist- 
drills, griiiding-niachines, stone, bolt and gear cut- 
ters; the twist drill-grinders are his own invention; 
he has also devised a clutch friction pulley that pre- 
vents noise in the changing of belts. He began with 
two men, but now employs eighteen. Mr. Eddy was 
contractor for L. W. Pond for twenty-one years. 

F. E. Reed, in April, 1875, purchased a half-inter- 
est in the concern of A. F. Prentice, who then em- 
ployed six men in French's building, in Hermon 
Street. In August, 1877, Mr. Reed purchased Mr. 
Prentice's interest and continued the business alone. 
At first he occupied but one floor, but soon added 
another, and later, built a comn)odious shop in Gold 
Street, which was finished in 1883, two stories and a 
basement, one hundred and eighty by fifty-five feet. 
The machinery and tools are all new and of the best 
patterns. One hundred and twenty-five men find 
employment in this business, and the power is fur- 
nishe<l by a forty horse-power Brown engine, while 
an Arinington & Sims engine drives an Edison dyna- 
mo which supplies three hundred sixteen candle- 
power lamps. The principal products of this shop 
are engine-lathes, ten to twenty inch swing, hand- 
lathes from nine to sixteen inch swing and a large 
line of foot-power lathes, with or without screw-cut- 
ting attachments. These machines are shipped to 
England, Germany, Japan, Mexico and to other 



32 



MANUFACTUKES. 



countries, and large quantities to all parts of the 
United States. 

Under the names of Boynton & Plummer, 50 
Lagrange Street, James Kindred, H. S. Brown and 
Henry Kindred have, since 1878, manufactured 
blacksmith drills, bolt-cutting machines and shaping- 
machines, and are the pioneers in this class of work in 
the city. Their trade extends throughout the coun- 
try and to Australia and South America. 

In February, 1878, E. H. Wood began to manufac- 
ture for Harwood & Quincy, of Boston, the Bramwell 
Feeder, which is used for feeding the wool into card- 
ing-niachines. This feeder has revolutionized the 
work of supplying carding-machines, and has been a 
great factor in the development of the wool-carding 
business. 

In 18SI their present shop, near the Junction, was 
completed and the Harwood & Quincy Machine Com- 
pany was formed. The Bramwell Feeder was invented 
by W. C. Bramwell, of Terre Haute, Ind. ; the entire 
patent is owned by Harwood & Quincy, who have 
the exclusive manufacture of the machine. Mr. Ed- 
win H. Wood, the superintendent of this company, 
was seventeen years the foreman in the shop of Daniel 
Tainter, formerly a well-known manufacturer of 
woolen machinery. 

In 1879 Mr. W. C.Young, began with one assistant 
in Mawhinney's building. No. 19 Church Street, the 
manufacture of shoe tools and edge planes ; he now 
employs twenty hands in the manufacture of engine- 
lathes, wood-turning and amateur lathes, which he 
designs himself, exporting a large number. 

J. A. Fuller, at No. 3 Cypress Street, makes 
machinists' tools, lathes, planers and speed-lathes, 
employing seven men ; he also manufactures bench- 
gears and small dynamos. 

Currier & Snyder began in 1883 in Central, and are 
now at 17 Hermon Street, where they manufacture 
upright drills. At first they employed but one hand, 
and now they employ fifteen. The ease and rapidity 
with which their drills can be manipulated have won 
for them a high reputation. Both the partners were 
for many years employed in the Blaisdell shop. 

The Powell Planer Company was incorporated in 
1887 for the manufacture of machinists' tools, and 
nwike a s])ecialty of iron planers. They control pat- 
ents upon lathe devices, for shifting belts, and for 
general convenience in operating the machine ; and 
have a system for securing a very fine, even surface 
for the working parts of their machines by using what 
they call " surface plates." Starting with three men, 
they now give employment to fifty. 

The tools made previous to 1845 were very much 
lighter than those made to-day. The beds of the 
engine lathes were of wood, with strips of iron 
bolted to them for tiie ways, and the carriage that 
held the cutting tool was operated by a chain. Grad- 
ually this was superseded by a rack and gears driven 
by a rod in front of the lathe. Tools have been very 



much increased in weight and the workmanship is 
much improved. There has been as great a change in 
the character of our shops in the last forty years as 
in their products. Then, a man was expected to 
begin work as soon as he could see, and to continue 
until nine o'clock at night, with half an hour for 
breakfast, an hour for dinner and half an hour for 
supper. Whale-oil lamps were used; thete smoked 
badly, and made the atmo-sphere almost unendurable. 
Pay came but once in six months, and then often in 
the form of a note, — a strong contrast with the 
short hours of the present day, steam heat, gas or 
the electric light and weekly wages in cash. 

Aguiculukal Implements. — It is said that it 
took the observation of the farmers and the inventive 
genius of the mechanics of the country, from 1797 to 
1842, to decide upon the best form of a plow. It was 
a subject that seemed to afibrd endless opportunity for 
argument and controversy. Thomas Jefferson was 
much interested in the suliject, and in a letter writ- 
ten to Jonathan Williams, in July, 1796, says that he 
has discovered " the form of a mould-board of least 
resistance,'' that he has reduced it to practice, and 
that his theorj' is fully confirmed. He gave this sub- 
ject careful study, as appears from his correspond- 
ence. 

The first iron plow in Worcester County was made 
by William A. Wheeler, in Hardwick, in 1822, but 
plows of some sort were made in Worcester in 1821 
and prior to that time by Oliver Wetherbee, who car- 
ried on the business in the blacksmith's shop of Levi 
Howe, and later at his own shop, a few rods from 
Captain Thomas' inn. 

In November, 1823, Mr. Wheeler announces that he 
will keep on hand all kinds of plows at his shop in 
Thomas Street. 

In November, 1824, the committee, in reporting 
upon the articles exhibited at the Cattle Show, then 
lately held, refer to two cast-iron plows exhibited by 
Oliver Wetherbee, and state that those plows are fast 
superseding those of the old construction. 

Burt & Merrick, in June, 1828, appear as agents of 
the Hitchcock plow, claimed to be superior to those 
previously used, and in 1829 Benjamin Butnian & Co. 
had for sale. " Nourse's Cast-Iron Plows." These 
plows were manufactured by J. & J. Nourse, at 
Shrewsbury, and were known as the Hartford Cast- 
iron Plows. 

In April, 1833, C. Howard's cast-iron plows are of- 
fered for sale by G. T. Rice & Co., and, at the same 
time, Mr. Wheeler announces that he has "just re- 
ceived an assortment of plow-points from the various 
patterns heretofore cast at Brookfield." Meantime, 
Mr. Joel Nourse appears to have moved from Shrews- 
bury to Worcester, and to have taken a shop in 
Thomas Street, for in August, 1833, he there offers for 
sale plows of the most approved construction and of 
five different sizes. He also oflfers for sale in March, 
1834, his "side-hill plows." Mr. Nourse seems to 



WORCESTEH 



33 



have been a successful manufacturer of plows, for in 
its report, the committee at the Cattle Show, in 1835, 
conipliuient him liighly. and say that all the plows 
on the tii-lJ except three were of his make. 

J. Nourse & Co., March, 1830, added the manufac- 
ture of cultivators to their business, and in March, 
1838, Ruggles, Nourse & Mason, a firm composed of 
Draper Uugglcs, Joel Nourse aud J. C. Mason, an- 
nounce that they have made arrangements I'or manu- 
t'acturing on an extensive scale the most improved 
form of cast-iron plows, and that they have secured 
Jethro Wood's patent on the same, and add, — " Most 
of the cast-iron plows are made too short, and are too 
concave for the mould-board to run easily." Ruggles, 
Nourse it Mason make plows for turning over green 
sward, turning over stubble; and also make three 
sizes of the celebrated side-hill plows; also, improved 
seed-aowers, improved expanded cultivators, and Coats' 
patent revolving hay-rake. 

The first plow made by Nourse and others was a 
clumsy atliiir ; the mould-board and standard were of 
iron, the rest of wood. 

Ruggles, Nourse & Mason were in Thomas Street, 
at first, about opposite the present location of the 
City Water-works Shop ; afterwards Mr. Samuel Davis 
induced them to move to Court Mills, where increased 
facilities enabled them to largely e.\tend their busi- 
ness. 

The next new implement made by Ruggles, Nourse 
& Mason was the Wilkes revolving horse-rake. They 
were constant exhibitors at the Cattle Shows, and in 
ISOl showed over twenty ditTerent kinds of plows. 
This industry was a most important one. Wori i-^tcr, 
at that time, is said to have been more lar{.'uly en- 
gaged in the manufacture of agricultural implements 
than any other city or town in the United States, and 
the business had been entirely developed within a 
comparatively few years; for there were those living 
who remembered the stub hoes and wooden plows, 
while the sensation of first seeing the cast-iron plow 
was fresh in the recollection of many farmers in the 
county. Ruggles, Nourse & Mason at this time, 
1851, occupied the Court Mills, the main building be- 
ing of brick, two hundred and fifty feet long, seventy- 
five feet wide and four stories high, and employing 
about two hundred hands. The motive-power was 
partly steam and partly water, supplied by Mill 
ISniok. The same turbine wheel is still use<l for 
power in K. W. Vaill's chair factory. 

The white oak timber used was furnished by (Jak- 
ham, Paxton, Sterling and other towns. The iron 
castings were made in an adjoining building, and 
three tons of iron were used daily. The pro<luct was 
golil in Hoston, where the Halcs-ro<mi occupied the 
second story in liuincy Market, and where were dis- 
played upwards of three hundred diflerent patterns 
of plows alone, to say nothing of other agricultural 
implements and dairy equipment. 

Among the recipicuts of medals at the Crystal Pal- 



ace Exhibition in New York, in 185-1, was the Wor- 
cester Shovel Company, for Kimball's patent shovels 
with malleable iron sockets; and Ruggles, Nourse & 
M;ison for .Vrmsby's patent corn shovel, for I'erry's 
patent meat-cutter and a vegetable-cutter ; also, for 
double sod and subsoil plow. In 1855 they offer 
mowing-machines for sale. 

April 1, 185(3, Ruggles, Nourse & Mason were suc- 
ceeded by Nourse, -Mason & Company, consisting of 
Joel Nourse, Peter Hart-ey and Samuel iJavis. 

After a time Nourse, Mason it Company sold out to 
Mr. Nourse, who organized a company consisting of 
Joel Nourse, Peter Harvey and Sampson &Tappan, of 
Biston, doing business under the name of Nourse, 
Mason & Company. Meantime, they had started a 
shop at (iroton Junction, where they were increasing 
their capacity as well as employing all the labor that 
could be accommodated at the Worcester factory. In 
1859 they were employing two hundred and fifty 
hands; their pay-roll amounted to eight thousand 
or nine thousand dollars per month, and they had in- 
creased their power by putting in a sixty horse- 
power engine. 

In 1860 the works were purchased by Oliver Ames 
& Sons, and, in 1874, moved to the large b.'ick factory 
in Prescott Street, where they are now in operation, 
under the name of the "Ames Plow Co." They 
manufacture all kinds of agricultural implements, 
power-machines, meat-cutters, etc. In 1887 they 
made seven thousand wheelbarrows. They make 
sevfn thousand plows yearly, aud employ one hun- 
dred and seventy men. 

In 1857, J. T. Adriance & Co., manufactured Man- 
ny's improved mowing-machine, and during that 
year made about six hundred of them. Alzirus 
Brown, in 1858, also manufactured these machines 
and Manny's reaper, employing about forty to fifty 
hands. 

In September, 1859, J. M. C. Armsby, who had 
previously been a partner in Nourse, Mason & Co., 
completed his building in Central Street, for the 
manufacture of plows, cultivators, harrows, horse- 
rakes, hoes, etc. It was one hundred feet long, thirty- 
five feet wide and four stories high, with two wings 
extending back — one seventy-four and the other fifly 
feet. An engine of twenty -five horse-power, made by 
the Putnam Machine Company, was the only piece 
of machinery in the buildiug not of Worcester manu- 
facture. 

A patent was granted, December, 1801, to L. (i. 
Kniffen, of Worcester, on his Union Mower. He 
formed a company for its manufacture, to be known 
as the " Union Mowing-Machine Company,'' Alzirus 
Brown, agent. 

TliK WitENTH BUSIXE.S8. — Thc Water privilege at 
New Worcester, occupieil by the two factories of the 
Coca Wrench Company, are, historically, of consider- 
able interest. 

Captain Daniel Gookin, who was one of the com- 



34 



MANUFACTUKES. 



missioners appointed by the General Court, October 
11, 1665, to survey the country in the vicinity of 
Lake Quinsigamond, to determine if there be a "meet 
place for a plantation, that it maybe improved for 
that end, and not spoiled by granting of farms," was 
the original owner of this property, and from him Mr. 
Loring Goes' great-grandfather had a deed of this 
water-power and built a saw-mill at the upper dam, 
where previously there was a beaver dam. 

On the site of the Leicester Street mill, wool and 
carding machinery was built from an early day. This 
privilege came into the hands of Moses Glements, 
and from him passed to William Stovvell, who also 
made woolen machinery, carding machinery and 
jacks. From Stowell the privilege passed to Thomas 
Harbach, at one time associated with Joseph Gon- 
verse, then to Edward and Martin Wilder, from whom 
it was purchased by L. & A. G. Goes, in 1848. At 
the southwest end of the Leicester Street Works 
was the old Clements building, of wood, two stories 
high and fifty or sixty feet long. It was later taken 
down by the Goes'. The building at the northeast 
end, still standing, was erected by William Stowell, 
about 1835, and was atone time occupied by Kimball & 
Fuller, in the manufacture of woolen machinery. Lor- 
ing and A. G. Goes were both born in New Worce.ster, 
and both worked for Kimball & Fuller. In 1836 the 
brothers formed a copartnership and purchased this 
business, which, meantime, in November, 1835, had 
been moved from New Worcester to Court Mills. Here 
they continued until October, 1839, when the Court 
Mills were destroyed by fire. This loss so far im- 
paired their capital as to prevent their starting again. 
Their fellow-tenants also burned out were, Samuel 
Davis, builder of woolen machinery ; Ruggles, Nourse 
& Maaon, manufacturers of plows and agricultural 
implements ; H. W. Miller, punching-machines for 
manufacturing nuts, washers, etc., and Thomas E. 
Daniels, builder of plauing-machinos. 

After the fire the brothers went to Springfield, 
Mass., and engaged as pattern-makers in the foundry 
of Laurin Trask ;' while there employed they made a 
model of a new and improved form of the wrench, a 
tool which they constantly used. There were at that 
time two styles — one of English invention, and the 
other known as the Merrick or Springfield wrench. 
The mechanism of both these wrenches was such that 
both hands were used to open or close them. This 
was often inconvenient, as it was important to so 
adjust the wrench to different openings, by the hand 
in which it was held, as to leave the other hand free 
for other demands of the work. It occurred to the 
Goes Brothers to dispense with the screw on the 
shaft, as in the Merrick wrench, and affix by the side 
of the shaft, a small bar in the form of a screw, which 
should enter another screw formed in the lower or 
movable jaw of the wrencli ; and that the first screw 



1 Van Slyck, "New EngUiQd Maoufacturere and Manufactories." 



should also have, at its lower end, where it should 
enter the handle, a rosette always in reach of the 
thumb of the hand that held the wrench. 

This rosette, being pressed and turned by the thumb 
would operate the screw, and the opening and closing 
of the wrench would easily be efl'ected by one hand. 
It seemed to them that this adjustment would make 
the tool much stronger by removing the indentations 
from the bar or shaft, and that there would be less 
liability of injury to the wrench from severe or im- 
proper use. 

In November, 1840, they returned to Worcester, 
and at once directed their efforts to securing a patent 
for their invention. The patterns of their spinning 
machinery had been saved from the fire, and these 
they sold to Samuel Davis, a manufacturer of woolen 
machinery, and so obtained the means for securing a 
patent, which was granted to Loring Goes, April 16, 
1841. 

The brothers now formed a co-partnership under 
the name of li. & A. G. Goes, for the manufacture of 
wrenches under this patent. They were without 
capital, and Henry W. Miller, a hardware dealer in 
Worcester, aided them by fitting up a shop (in the 
northwest end of Court Mill, in Mr. Miller's shop), 
with the requisite machinery and tools, of which he 
retained the ownership, taking and selling all thq 
wrenches manufactured by the Messrs. Goes. The 
business was so far successful that early in 1843 they 
were able to purchase the machinery and tools. They 
were now employing three hands, and made a con- 
tract with G. Foster & Go. to sell their goods. The 
next winter (1843-44) they moved to the shop of Albert 
Curtis, in New Worcester. They leased a basement in 
one of Mr. Curtis' buildings who built them a black- 
smith shop, and put in a trip-hammer for their use. 

At the close of their contract with G. Foster & Co., 
April 1, 1848, they entered into a contract for five 
years with Rnggles, Nourse & Mason. At this time, 
also, they bought for fifty-five hundred dollars the old 
woolen-mill in which they had both worked in their 
youtli — the water privilege, two houses and about 
four acres of land. They were now employing from 
twelve to fifteen men, and making from five to six 
hundred wrenches a month. They repaired and 
raised the mill and put in a new water-wheel and new 
machinery. 

"Their contract with Ruggles, Nourse & Mason 
expired, by limitation, April 1, 1853, and they thence- 
forward sold their own goods. They had, during the 
twelve years since their first patent was granted, de- 
vised, individually or jointly, various improvements 
in the wrenches and in the special machinery used in 
their manufacture. 

" On July 21, 1853, with Levi Hardy, they pur- 
chased from Moses Clement his shop, machinery and 
business — that of the manufacture of shear-blades 
and knives for hay-cutting machines. The co-part- 
nership continued until May 2, 1864. 



WOliCESTElt. 



35 



" Alter tlie dissolution of their co-partnership, 
having purchased >Ir. Hardy's interest in it, they 
continued the business, with Charles A. Hardy as 
the superintendent oflheshop, keeping its accounts 
distinct from those of the wrench business. 

" In 1805 they built a dam half a mile above their 
water privilege, to form a reservoir, and the next 
year they built a shop at tlie reservoir, one hundred 
t'eet by forty, two stories high, with a basement, de- 
voting it exclusively to the manufacture of shear- 
blades, hay-cutter knives and similar articles. 

" In ISO" they built a new dam one hundred rods 
below the reservoir." 

On April 1, 1809, they dissolved their co-partner- 
ship and divided the business — Loring Coas taking 
the upper privilege, including the shear-blade busi- 
ness, and A. G. taking the lower privilege, and pay- 
ing a bonus for the right of choice. At this time 
they sold monthly from ten to twelve thousand 
wrenches.' 

L. Coes & Company erected the large brick factory 
at the lower dam, one hundred feet long, fifty feet 
wide and four stories high, with basement and attic. 
The building, with the machinery to be used in it, 
was finished early in 1871. 

The Coes Wrench Company is a consolidation of 
the two companies, which was eflected April 1, 1888, 
with Loring Coes, president ; John H. Coes, treasurer, 
and Frederick L. Coes, secretary — the two latter, 
sons of A. G. Coes. They are now manufacturing 
wrenches under patents of Loring Coes, dated July 0, 
1.S80, and July 8, 1884; are producing fifteen hundred 
wrenches per day and employ one hundred hands. 

-Vt the outlet of the upper pond Mr. Loring Coes 
carrie-s on quite an extensive business in the manfac- 
ture of die stock for cutting sole-leather and other 
purposes. He also makes shear-blades, knives for 
meat, cheese-cutters and lawn-mower knives. He 
nas a trip-hammer in this shop, and the old rolling- 
mill, used for making [ilane irons, by William Hovey, 
on the mill dam in lioston many years ago. 

L. Hardy .t Co., at New Worcester, conducted by 
Henry .\. Hoyt, manufacture shear-blades, die stock 
for cutters, <&c., and John Jacques, at New Worces- 
ter, manufactures patent shears for book-makers, 
binders, |>rintcr» and paper-boy. makers ; also shears 
for tin-plate workers. 

(Jther manufacturers of wrenches, in a small way, 
have engaged in the business from lime to time. In 
April, 1852, E. !•'. Dixie advertises to manufacture 
" Hewet's celebrated screw-wrench." George C. Taft 
and John Gleiuion manufactured wrenches, in con- 
nection with copying-prci-Hcs, at Northvillc, in 18.0.3. 
H. K. Joslyn, who Hoems to have been a most ingeni- 
ous mechanic, and who made several inventions in 
firc-anns, made several improvements in wrenches, 
and on one of (hese, at leaat, procured a patent. 

■ VaoSlfck, "N'<w EogUod Msouhclarara aod Mxiuriclorlca." 



Buggies, Nourse & Mason, who were at one time 
selling agents for the Coes', manufactured wrenches 
ii\ l.S,j'J, in connection with the business in agricul- 
tural implements. 



CHAPTER V. 

MANUF.\CTl'RING AND MKCII.^NIC.^L INDUSTRIES. 
Wire — irir«- Workert — Copptrat. 

WlUK. — In the latter half of the eighteenth century 
the desirability of commencing the manufacture of 
wire in this country was very generally recognized. 
But little progress was made for some years, and most, 
if not all, of the card-wire was imported from England. 
In fact, at this time there was very little wire made 
in the world. From a well-authenticated source the 
a.ssertion is made that in ISIO the entire output of 
wire in England would not exceed one four-horse load 
weekly. 

From the report of Albert Gallatin, then Secretary 
of the Treasury, made iu 1810, it appears that the 
demand for cards was twice as much in 1809 as in 
ISOS, and was increasing. 

Tlio wire is lni[>orted, and soriouB incoiiTciiienco would aucnd tho 
stopiMigc or tlio supply, ulthougli tlio lunniiructuro might, and would bo 
hiiniediutely establittlied to supply all demands, if tlio mme duty wero 
laid ou wire, now free, as on otiier articles of tlio sauie malurial. 

In the early days the hardware dealers of Worcester 
imported their wire from England or Germany. Wire 
was drawn in Walpole, soon after the Revolution, by 
Eleazar Smith, and card-wire was drawn by hand in 
Leicester as early as 1809. In ISi:? mention is made 
of a wire factory, run by Joseph White, in West 
Boylston ; in April, 1814, of its manufacture in 
Phillipston, and in the same year a wire factory is 
advertised for sale at Barre, on the Ware River. 

Prior to 1815 a building on the present site of the 
Coes Wrench Factory, Leicester .Street, New Wor- 
cester, was occupied as a wire factory. 

Wire was drawn in .'<i>encer between 1815 and 1820. 
Its manufacture in Worcester was begun in 1831 by 
Ichabod Washburn and Benjamin (Joddard, In a 
wooden factory at Northvillc. This wason thesecond 
privilege south of North I'oml dam. and was built by 
Frederick W. Paine. The factory now standing on 
this site is the third one built there, the two preceding 
having been burned. 

Ichabod Washburn first engaged in business in 
Worcester in 1820, with William H. Howard, in the 
manufacture of woolen machinery and lead pipe. 
.Mr. Howard shortly aflcrwanls left town, and Mr. 
Washburn purchaseil his half of tho business, which 
he continued. 

Tho demand for woolen machinery increasing, Mr. 
Washburn, in 1822, took as partner Mr. Benjamin 



36 



MANUFACTUKES. 



Goddard, the firm being Washburn & Goddard, and 
they soon employed thirty men. They made the first 
condenser and long-roll spinuing-jack ever made in 
Woicester County, and among the first lathe country. 

Any one passing in Main Street, by the head of 
School Street, in the year 1822, might have seen pro- 
jecting from one of the large sycamore trees standing 
there, the following sign : — Wool CARDi>iG and 
Lead AqnEOUCT Manufactory, with a hand point- 
ing down the street to Washburn & Goddard's shop, on 
the site now occupied by N. A. Lombard's building, 
and near the site of the factory for the manufacture 
of corduroys and fustians, occupied in 1789 by Sam- 
uel Brazer. 

During the winter of 1830-31 Mr. Washburn, in a 
small wooden building, back of what is now the brick 
part of N. A. Lombard's factory, in School Street, 
experimented in the manufacture of wood-screws. 

Some time during the year 1831, Mr. Washburn, 
Mr. Goddard and General Heard visited North Prov- 
idence, where three brothers — Clement O., Curtis 
and Henry Read — were making wood-screws under a 
patent which they owned. An arrangement was made 
with the Reads, and they moved the screw machinery 
to the Northville Factory at Worcester. It was 
brought from Providence on a canal-boat, the jour- 
ney occupying three daj's. 

Meantime, in August, 1831, Washburn & Goddard 
sold their business in School Street, and moved to 
Northville, where the manufacture of wire and wood- 
screws was begun, the wire being manufactured by 
Wiuihburn & Goddard, the screws under the name of 
C. Read & Co., with whom Mr. Washburn had an 
interest. Washburn & Goddard at the same time 
manufactured card-wire. 

Some time between April, 183G, and March, 1837, 
the screw business was removed to Providence, where 
it continued for a time under the name of C. Read & 
Co., but ultimately became the nucleus of the " Eagle," 
now the "American Screw Company," which has 
since acquired a world-wide reputation. 

Mr. Washburn states, in his autobiography, that 
the first wire-machine he ever saw was one of self- 
acting pincers, drawing out about a foot, then pass- 
ing back and drawing another foot. With this crude 
machine a man could draw about fifty pounds of wire 
per day. For this Mr. Wiishburn substituted the 
wire-block, which is in use at the present time. 

The process of wire-drawing consists in taking a 
coarse wire rod and drawing it through a hole of less 
diameter than the rod, in an iron or steel plate, and 
repeating the operation until the rod is reduced to 
wire of the required size. The reduction is effected 
by stretching the wire, and not by removing the 
metal. 

At the present day a piece of steel four inches 
square and three feet long is rolled into a two hun- 
dred pound coil of No. 6 rods, measuring about two 
thousand and forty-six feet. This rod, by the process 



of drawing from No. 6 to No. 12, is increased in 
length to 6,848 feet. The diameter of the No. 12 
wire is .105, while the billet from which it is made has 
a sectional area of sixteen square inches. 

Mr. Washburn, at this time, happened to be in New 
York, when Phelps, Dodge & Co., with whom he had 
business, said to him that they were starting a wire- 
mill, and expected to make all the wire that would 
be wanted in the country, and predicted failure for 
his mill in Worcester. 

.January 30, 1835, the partnership was dissolved, 
Mr. Goddard retaining the factory at Northville for 
the manufacture of woolen machinery, while Mr. 
Washburn continued the wire business in a factory 
built for him, by the late Stephen Salisbury, on Mill 
Brook, which was dammed for the purpose of provid- 
ing water-power, thus forming what is now known as 
Salisbury's Pond. The earth removed to make a basin 
for the pond forms the high ground now found upon 
the south side and included within the boundaries of 
Institute Park. 

The building erected by Mr. Salisbury was eighty 
feet long and I'orty feet in width, three stories high in 
the centre, with a sloping roof, two chimneys and 
surmounted by a cupola containing a bell. 

In 1835 Charles Washburn came from Harrison, 
Me., where he was practicing law, and formed a co- 
partnership with his brother Ichabod, which con- 
tinued until January 13, 1838. Meantime Benjamin 
Goddard discontinued the manufacture of woolen 
machinery, and the Northville mill came into Mr. 
Washburn's possession. He then made a contract 
with Mr. Goddard to draw wire for him, and wire 
machinery was again set up in the Northville factory. 

About the year 1840 Mr. Washburn bought the 
water power and property nov/ occupied by the Wor- 
cester Wire Company at South Worcester. Mr. God- 
dard took charge of the mill, and retained that posi- 
tion till his death, in 1867, and all three of his sons 
worked there, — Delano, who afterwards became the 
accomplished editor of the Bo/flon Advertiser ; Henry, 
who is now at the head of an important department 
at the works of the Washburn & Moen Manufacturing 
Company ; and Dorrance, who for many years was 
superintendent of the South Works of the corpo- 
ration. 

The South Worcester Mill \\'&'* a one-story building, 
about fifty feet long and thirty feet wide. Card-wire 
was here drawn to No. 19 size, and brought to Grove 
Street to be finished. Coarser wire, for machinery 
and telegraph purposes, was also drawn at South Wor- 
cester. 

At the Worcester County Cattle Show, held in Oc- 
tober, 1838, Ichabod Washburn exhibits very excel- 
lent wire Nos. 30, 31, 32 and 33, and also iron wire 
cards. 

In 1842 Charles Washburn again became a partner 
in the business. February 13, 1845, the old wire- 
mill in Northville, then used as a cotton-factory and 



WORCESTER. 



37 



occupied by William Crompton, was totally destroyed 
by fire. 

In February, 1847, Prouty & Earle had a wire- 
factory at Wa.shiii>;i<in Sijuare; subsequently it was 
purcha.-<ed by I. \ f. Washburn. 

At this time the demand ("or telegraph-wire com- 
menced. From 1847 until 1X51) it Wiis mainly oC No. 
9 size. Stubs' gauge. It was not galvanized at first, 
but was sometimes painted or boiled iu oil, for the 
purpose of retarding the inevitable process of oxida- 
tion. A more complete preservative was later found 
in zinc, applied by the process known as galvanizing. 
At first this was somewhat crude, and consisted in 
dipping the coils of wire in molten zinc, after which 
the surplus metal was shaken off by violent pounding. 

From IS37 till 1847 Ichabod Washburn purchased 
in Sweden his wire-rod billets, which were bars of 
iron about twelve feet long, one and one-eighth inch 
square iu section, and these were rolled into wire-rods 
at Fall River, Troy and Windsor Locks, Conn. The I 
inconvenience of having the rolling done at a dis- I 
tance led Ichabod and Charles Washburn, in 1847, ' 
to look about for a location for a rolling-mill. 

Attracted by the water-power at Quinsigamond, a 
small part of which was then used by the lower paper- 
mill remaining at that place, they purchased the 
whole property of the Lincoln family, thus acquiring 
what they deemed reliable power, and, at the same 
time, plenty of room for the location of all the build- 
ings necessary for their purposes. 

Under their patronage a new firm was organized to 

irry on the rod-rolling and wire business, under the 
::tle of Washburn, Moon & Co., a firm composed of 
Henr)' .S. Wajshburn, Charles Wsishburn and Philip 
L. Moen. This company was dissolved January 12, 
1849, the business being continued by Henry S. 
Washburn. 

January 1, 1849, the co-partnership theretofore ex- 
ing between I. & C. Washburn was dissolved, the 
manufacture of wire in its various branches being 
continued at tho Grove Street mill by Ichabod Wash- 
burn. A division of the property was had, Charles 
Washburn taking i^uinsigamond. February 9, 1X49, 
he offered to rent for a term of years "the building 
with water-power sufficient for driving machinery for 
a sash and blind-factory, or any other business not 
requiring a very great water-power." At the same 
time he offers for sale the entire machinery for the 
manufacture of paper in the said building. 

This was the lower •)f the two paper-mills, which 
for many years had been run at this point by the 
Kurbanks, and was located in what is known ni the 
scrap-yard of the Washburn A. Moen Manufacturing 
('ompany, about forty feet south of a well, which is 
now constantly in use and which a(ror<lcd water for 
the <qieralives in the paper-mill. '1'ln^ end of the 
mill was parallel with the railroad, ami was only scp- , 
arated from it by the width of the old race-way, and | 
stood at a point about four hundred and sixty feet | 



southeast of the traveled highway, as il cro.s.ses the 
railroad. 

April 1, 18.")0, Philip L. Moen became a partner 
with Mr. Ichabod Washburn, and has been actively 
engaged in the busines.s from that time. 

In July, 1851, a Mr. .\danis had a wire-factory op- 
posite the Norwich depot, but no further notice of it 
is to be found. 

January 2, 1853, Henry S. Washburn formed a co- 
partnership with Charles F. Washburn, and they con- 
tinued at Quinsigamond rolling rods and manufac- 
turing iron and wire under the firm-name of Henry 
S. W;«hburn & Co. Meantime, Ichabod Washburn 
had made considerable progress in the manufacture 
of wire, particularly of card-wire, introducing new 
and improved processes. This was made of Swedish 
bars one and one-quarter inch&s square, which were 
rolled at Quinsigamond into wire rods of a little less 
than one-quarter of an inch in diameter; they were 
then carried to the wire factory at South Worcester 
and Grove Streets, and drawn to the necessary sizes. 
The capacity of this rolling-mill was about si.x long 
tons per day of ten hours. 

Early in his experience as a wire-drawer Mr. Wash- 
burn adopted certain improved processes ♦or anneal- 
ing,— that is, restoring the wire, as it became hard and 
brittle, by repeated drawing to its original soft and 
pliable condition, — by heating in cast-iron pots and 
cooling slowly. This improvement consisted in plac- 
ing the small coils in double air-tight irou-pols. 

In 1850, at the suggestion of Mr. Chickering, of 
Boston, Mr. Washburn devoted hi.s attention to the 
production of steel wire for piano-fortes, the manu- 
facture of which had been previously monopolized by 
several English houses. These experiments were 
successful ; and the English wire was discarded for 
that made in Worcester. 

From that time to this the Washburn &Moen Com- 
pany has been the only manufacturer of music-wire 
in this country. 

In February, 18.5(5, the Quinsigamond Mills con- 
sisted of a building one hundred and fifty feet front 
with two wings extending back one hundred and fifty 
feet, between which was a hoop building, sixty by 
thirty feet ; these with coal-houses and yards covered 
more than an acre of ground. Here were manufac- 
lure<l Brazer's screws, rivet rods, brigtit and annealed 
market and telegraph, spring, fence, buckle and bail 
wire; also fine hoops. The daily product Wiw ten Ions; 
eighty-five operatives were employed and one hun- 
dred horse-power was supplied by three water-wheels. 
The annual product of the mill was valued at three 
hundred thousand dollars. 

The first continuous tompering done by Mr. Icha- 
bod Washburn was in 185i'i, in the rear of his Summer 
Street resilience; this was music wire, and the har- 
dening was done in water. Early in 1857 the furnace 
wo» removed to the old gymnasium in Orchard Street 
and oil was substituted for water. 



38 



MANUFACTURES. 



This series of experiments led to an important 
invention in the process of hardening and tempering 
continuously. Hitherto this had only been done 
when the steel wire was in the form of a coil by sub- 
iecting it first to high heat, and then cooling in oil or 
water. 

But the pressure for music wire and for crinoline 
wire now coming upon him, the old process became 
too slow and expensive to be endured, and it became 
necessary to adopt some more efficient method. This 
was found in the continuous process of hardening and 
tempering, which he patented, and which, without 
any substantial improvement or change has been 
universally adopted, rendering possible many results 
which could not otherwise have been reached. 

In 1857 the partnership of Henry S. Washburn and 
Charles F. Washburn was dissolved, and May Ist, of 
that year, Charles Washburn and Charles F. Wash- 
burn formed a co-partnership under the name of 
Charles Washburn & Son, and continued in business 
at the Quinsigamond works. Henry S. Washburn 
remained in the wire business, and occupied as a fac- 
tory one of the buildings erected by Nathan Wash- 
burn near the freight depot of the Western Railroad. 

C. Washburn & Son then manufactured most of 
their common market wire from scrap iron piled on 
boards eighteen by eight inches, heated to a welding 
heat, and rolled into billets which were re-heated and 
rolled into rods. 

The only appliances in their mills for the produc- 
tion of wire rods were three heating furnaces and a 
large train of two roll-s, in which the pile of heated 
scrap was rolled to one and one-eighth inch billets of 
one hundred pounds weight ; and a small train of rolls 
three high, by which these billets were rolled to 
three and a half by four Stubs' gauge wire rod. 

Experiments in the burning of peat were made by 
Henry S. Washburn & Co., and by I. Washburn & 
Co., but it did not prove a satisfactory substitute for 
coal. 

In July, 1859, I. Washburn & Company employed 
one hundred and twenty hands in the Grove Street 
mill, and made three tons of iron wire per day. They 
were erecting a new mill three stories high, eighty feet 
by forty feet, and were also making large additions 
to the mill in South Worcester ; a new annealing 
house, fifty feet by thirty feet, two stories high, 
together with additions to the main building. 

Crixoline Wire. — The crinoline wire busi- 
ness commenced about 1859 and lasted for ten years. 
This was made possible by the continuous hardening 
and tempering process invented by Mr. Washburn, 
which made it feasible to temper a cheaper grade of 
cast steel at very little additional cost, and thus sub- 
stitute it for the more expensive methods before used 
for increasing the size of women's skirts. This 
enabled the skirt-makers to put their goods on the 
market furnished with steel hoops of great toughness 
and elasticity, and at a price which put them within 



the reach of the poorest; consequently, this line of 
business was largely increased until about 1870, when 
other fashions came into vogue and the consumption 
of tempered steel in this form steadily decreased. 
For several years the annual output of tempered 
crinoline wire was one thousand five hundred tons 
annually, making this company the largest consumer 
of cast steel in the country. 

About ISGO Mr. Washburn introduced continuous 
annealing, cleaning and galvanizing. This was an 
English invention and a great improvement upon the 
processes previously used, being of especial value at 
that time in the manufacture of telegraph wire. 

In November, 1862, the iron and wire works of 
Chas. Washburn & Son, Quinsigamond, were totally 
destroyed by fire. 

In 1863 I. Washburn & Moen built a cotton-mill, 
which was run for about ten years, producing yarn 
sufficient to cover four tons per day of tempered 
crinoline wire. 

In 1864 I. Washburn & Moen controlled the works 
at Grove Street and South Worcester, but had no 
rolling-mill. Their business was confined to iron and 
cast steel of dift'erent grades, Bessemer steel and 
open-hearth steel being introduced many years later. 

January 2, 1865, I. Washburn & Moen changed the 
co-partnership to a corporation under the style of 
I. Washburn & Moen Wire Works, organized for the 
purpose of manufacturing wire and wire rods. Capi- 
tal' stock, $500,000. 

August 4, 1865, the Quinsigamond Iron & Wire 
Works, which succeeded to the business of Chas. 
Washburn & Son, was organized. 

November 27, 1866, a petition was filed to form a 
corporation " for making wire and wire rods, cotton 
yarn and goods, with a capital larger than at present 
allowed." The petitioners asked to be incorporated 
under the title of Washburn & Moen Wire Works, 
with a capital of $600,000. 

July 7, 1867, the mill at South Worcester was 
burned and the business was conducted at Grove 
Street till March, 1868, when a new mill at South 
Worcester was in readiness. About a year and one- 
half from that time the company commenced the 
erection of most of the present buildings in Grove 
Street. Meantime, February 24, 1868, the Quinsig- 
amond" Iron & Wire Works and the Washburn & 
Moen Wire Works were consolidated under the 
name of the Washburn & Moen Manufacturing Com- 
pany, with a capital of $1,000,000, and authority to 
increase this amount to $1,500,000, the present 
capital, was granted May 26, 1869. 

In the fall of 1869 was built the first rolling-mill, 
at Grove Street. This was a " Continuous Mill," so 
called, and was in its essential features an English 
invention. 

The adoption of Bessemer steel, which occurred in 
1876, created a revolution in the wire business, sub- 
stituting, as it did, a better and cheaper material for 



WORCESTER. 



39 



very many purposes. This occurred at the begin- 
ning of the barbed wire business. The use of Besse- 
mer steel for this purpose alone, besides furnishing a 
stronger wire than could he made from Swedish iron, 
represents a saving of at least four million five hun- 
dred thousand dollars annually to the farmers of the 
country. 

Barbed Fexcixo. — The importance of the fence 
question to the people of the United States can per- 
haps be best appreciated by a mere statement of the 
results contained In the Report of the United States' 
Department for .\griculture for 1871, from which it 
appears that the cost of fencing in thirty-seven States 
had amounted to $1,747,549,931, while -the annual 
(jst of repairs amounted to $93,9(53,187. This to- 
gether with the annual interest on the original in- 
vestment at si.\ per cent., made the total cost, exclu- 
sive of rebuilding, $188,.S0iJ,lS2. 

The cost of fencing per rod, as stated in this report, 
varies from 30 cents in Alabama to $2.20 in Rhode 
Island. In addition, a fence occupies and wastes, 
upon an average, a piece of land half a rod wide, or 
one acre in every fifty, making a total of not less 
than 50,000,000 acres in the United States. 

Not only was the expense of fencing with timber 
enormous, but apprehension was felt that the supply 
might be unequal to the demands made upon it. 
Wire a-s a fencing material was recommended as 
early as 1821. Speaking of the wastefulness of the 
common method of wooden-fencing, the secretary of ! 
the New York State Agricultural Society for 1850 ; 
stated that the worm-fence took " from every one 
hundred acres an area of five acres." 

The sabstitution of wire for wood as a fencing 
material was generally recommended on the ground 
that it takes up no room, exhausts no soil, shades no 
vegetation, is proof against high winds, makes no 
snow-drifts, and is both durable and cheap. 

As the necessity for a cheap fencing material in- 
crea.4ed, elTorts to supply the need also increased. 
Up to 1881 twelve hundred and twenty-nine patents 
had been issued relating to fencing, and more than 
two-thirds of that number since 18i"i5. 

The firnt patent was in 1801, and 'up to 1857 
about one hundred had been issued, while in ISliO, 
'67 and '68 three hundred and sixty-eight fence 
putentii were issued. 

In examining the patents issued it is found that of 
the twelve hundred and twenty-nine insued up to 
IHsl flirty were to inventors in the New Kngland 
.Stales; three hundred and seventy-two to the Mid<lle 
Slater; one hundred and eight to the .Southern 
Stales; and six hundred and ninety-six to the West- 
ern Stales; eight to the District of Columbia uud five 
to Canada. 

Of the States, Ohio had the greatest number, two 
hiindreil and forty-one; folluwcd by New York, two 
linndre<l and thirty-one; Illinois, one hundre<l and 
f>irty-two; Iowa, ninety-nix. 



Up to 1873 plain No. 9 round wire was largely used 
in the West as a fencing material and thousands of 
tons of it were in use, but it was not satisfactory. It 
stretched in warm and contracted in cold weather, 
which wiu the cause of constant breakages; further- 
more, cattle could rub against it with impunity, and 
this constant pressure loosened the posts and broke 
the wire. 

In the fall of 1873 the manufacture of barbed-wire 
was begun in a small way at DeKalb, III., by Mr. J. F. 
Glidden, who was a farmer in that town. He first 
made a few rods of fencing and put it up on his own 
farm in November, 1873. The process was very crude 
when compared with the present method of manufac- 
ture. 

The barbs were first formed by bending around a 
mandril and then slipped upon one wire of the fence; 
the second wire was then intertwisted with the first; 
this locked the barbs in place and prevented lateral as 
well as rotary motion. The fencing was iijade in six- 
teen-foot lengths, and as there was no means for coil- 
ing it on spools for transportation, it was carried to 
the point where it was to be put up, and then enough 
of these sixteen-foot lengths were spliced together to 
give a fence of the desired length. The first piece 
actually .sold for use was in the spring of 1874. Three 
boys and two men were able to make fifty pounds per 
day. In June, 1874, it was arranged to do the twisting 
by horse-power, and this increased the product of 
three boys and two men to one hundred and fifty 
pounds ])er day. 

In the latter part of 1874 a rude hand-machine was 
devised for twisting the barb upon the main wire and 
spooling the product, which was subsequently un- 
wound and twisted with a second wire and then 
spooled again. Ry the use of the latest machinery, 
one man will now produce two thousand pounds, or 
over five and a half miles, in ten hours. 

In the spring of 187t; the attention of the Washburn 
& .Moen Manufacturing Company having been called 
to this new article of manufacture and impressed with 
its value, automatic machinery was constructed and 
patented, and the control of the underlying barbed- 
wire patents was acquired. These patents were, — 
one to L. B. Smith, of Ohio (.lune '2!), 1807), in which 
the barb consists of four radially projecting points 
from a hub, which is prevented from moving laterally 
by a bend in the main wire. I'alent granted to W. 
D. Hunt, of New York, in which a single fence wire 
is armed with spur-wheels which can revolve upon 
the main wire. Talent to Mirhael Kelly, f)f New 
York, dated February 11, 18(;8; this is the first patent 
to show two win's twisted together. The barb was 
made of a lo/.enge-shaped piece of sheet metal and 
was strung upon the main wire, while for strength, a 
second wire was intertwisted with the first. This in- 
ventor showed a mo«t intelligent conception of the 
subject matter of his Invention, as appears from the 
lollowing quotation taken from his specifications: 



40 



MANUFACTURES. 



I can, by lliis invention, make an eflicient fence from unconnected 
wires, six incllcs apart, fixing tlie artificial thorns on tlie wires four 
inches apart. This fence talles only one-fourth as mucli wire as in 
ordinary wire fences, yet it is more efficient. This fence will weigh 
about one-eighth as much as ordinary connected wire fence, by which I 
mean those woven or twisted together. It can be wound on a reel, like 
telegraph wire, and a farmer can transport as much in a single wagon- 
load as will serve to build fences for a large farm. 

The next patent in point of date, and chief in im- 
portance, is the patent to Glidden, dated November 
24, 1874, in which is for the first time found a barb, 
made of wire wrapped about a fence wire, and locked in 
place by a fellow wire intertwisted with the first. 
Meantime, barbed wire was growing in popularity ; 
at first, strong prejudices had to be overcome. Many 
hardware dealers would not have it in their stores. 
The ])ublic, too, had to be educated. A length of 
barbed wire, with two barbs upon it, was shown to 
two men in Texas ; one guessed it was a model of a 
fence, the barbs being the posts, and another thought 
it was a bit for a hor»e. 

A skeptical farmer said he didn't believe it 
amounted to much; that he had a bull (Old Jim) 
who would go through anything, and he guessed he 
wouldn't stop for barbed wire. His field was fenced ; 
" Old Jim " shook his head, elevated his tail, and 
went for it. The farmer was converted, and so was 
"Jim." 

Barbed wire, once introduced, grew rapidly in favor. 
In fact, it became a necessity ; strong, durable, cheap, 
easily transported, and an absolute barrier against 
man and beast, it became at once the best fencing 
material known, and the demand for it rapidly in- 
creased. Meantime, infringers began to spring up, 
and litigation followed. No stronger or more per- 
sistent efforts were ever made to break down a 
patent property than were directed against the barbed 
wire patents. 

Thousands of pages of testimony were taken upon 
alleged cases of prior use all over the West and in 
Texas. The greatest interest was taken in the cases 
involving, as they did, the control of what even then 
bade fair to be a most important industry. 

The defence relied upon establishing the alleged 
cases of prior use, and also insisted strongly that there 
was no invention in arming a wire with pricking 
spurs. The United States Circuit Court for the 
Northern District of Illinois, in December, 1880, 
sustained the patents, and this gave the Washburn & 
Moen Manufacturing Company, and their associate, 
Isaac L. Ellwood, of DeKalb, 111., the control of this 
business. Licenses were issued to most of the parties 
lately infringing, and the business has been conducted 
upon that basis up to the present time, and will be 
during the life of the patents, some of which do not 
expire for several years. 

To protect themselves and their licensees, the 
Washburn & Moen Manufacturing Company has 
purchased upwards of two hundred and fifty patents 
upon barbed wire and barbed wire machinery. 



The amount of barbed wire consumed in this 
country has increased from five tons, in 1874, to a 
probable output of one hundred and fifty thousand 
tons, over eight hundred and fifty thousand miles, in 
1888. Of this amount, the Washburn & Moen 
Manufacturing Company makes about eighteen thou 
sand tons (over one hundred thousand miles), while 
the capacity of their works is seventy-five tons 
per day of ten hours, or four hundred and twenty- 
six miles. The cost to the consumer has during 
this time been reduced from eighteen cents 
per pound to less than five cents. This has resulted 
from the reduced price of wire and the introduction 
of automatic machinery. 

Bale Ties. — About the time that barbed wire be- 
gan to be manufactured the company became the 
owners of patents upon bale ties, a wire substitute 
for the wood and rope previously used. There are 
probably to-day ten thousand tons used annually for 
binding hay in the United States. 

Each ton of wire will wind three hundred and thirty 
tons of hay or straw, and the whole ten thousand 
tons of wire will bind three million three hundred 
thousand tons of hay and straw. 

It formerly cost on an average to press this amount, 
when bound with rope, two dollars per ton. Wire is 
applied to the bales with so much greater ease than 
wood or rope, that a saving of fifty cents per ton, at 
a low estimate, is effected in pressing hay when wire 
ties are used. But the greatest saving made to the 
public by the introduction of wire for binding pur- 
poses is in the increased security against loss by fire. 
When hay, straw or tow are bound with rope or wood, 
each is easily set on fire, the binding materal burns, 
and thus allows the compressed mass to become loose 
and add fuel to the flames. This, of course, is not 
the case when wire is used. For this reason, rope 
and wood were discarded many years ago in pressing 
cotton. 

Altogether, millions of dollars are saved annually to 
the public by the introduction of wire tie.*, all of 
which has been effected in the last twelve or fourteen 
years. 

Copper Wire. — Since 1884 copper wire has taken 
a prominent place among the products of this com- 
pany, as it has been and is being largely substituted 
for iron, particularly in long-distance telephoning 
and electric lighting. 

Copper has always been preferred to iron for elec- 
tric purposes by reason of its greater conductivity, 
but previous to the introduction of hard-drawn cop- 
per wire it did not possess the requisite strength. By 
present processes a copper wire of sufficient strength 
can be produced ' much lighter than iron, and of 
largely increased conductivity, as is apparent when 
the fact is stated that for a given length of wire an 
equal degree of conductivity 'will require five times 
as much weight in a mile of iron as of copper wire. 

In January 1884, there were probably not more 



WORCESTEH 



41 



than one hundred or two hundred miles of hard- 
drawn copper wire in use in this country. To-day 
there are, it is estimated, at least fifty thousand miles, 
representing about four thousand two hundred tons 
of metal, now ii^ operation by the various telegraph 
and telephone companies, the average weight per 
mile being about one hundred and seventy pounds.' 

The larger sizes of copper wire are used in connec- 
tion with electric railways. 

WiitE RorE. — Among the more recent specialties 
introduced by the company is wire rope, of which is 
manufactured: galvanized steel wire cable for suspen- 
sion bridges; phosphor-bronze and copper wire rope; 
transmission and standing rope; galvanized wire 
seizing; hoisting rope; tiller rope; switch rope; 
copper, iron and tinned sash cord wire; clolhes-linea 
and picture-cords; galvanized iron wire rope forships' 
rigging; galvanized crucible cast-steel wire rope for 
yachts' rigging. 

The rapid introduction of cable railways has created 
another demand for wire rope. 

Wire Nails. — The raanufncture of wire nails is 
another branch of business conducted by the company. 
The wire nail, as an article of manufacture, was 
scarcely known in this country ten years»ago. Since 
that time it has come into general use, and it is esti- 
mated upon good authority that more wire nails are 
used to-day than cut nails. The variety is very largei 
running from three-sixteenths of an inch, made from 
No. 22 iron, to a length of fourteen inches, made froni 
No. 000 wire. 

It is a little remarkable that the introduction of 
two articles of manufacture — barbed wire and wire 
nails — should within the last fifteen years have created 
a new demand for wire, amounting to at least two 
hundred and seventy-five thousand tons per annum, 
which has been made possible by the use of Bessemer 
steel. 

While the proce-ts of drawing wire is, in principle, 
the ^ame as practiced fifty years age, many improve- 
ments have been made leading to a largely increased 
relative product. Great advances have been made in 
certain of the mechanical processes, particularly in 
the rolling of wire rods. In 184»»the first rolling-mill 
at t^uinsigamond produced about five tons of No. 4 
rods in ten hours; at the present time the output is 
from forty to fifty tons in the same time. 

The demand for wire and the purposes for whicli it 
t* mc'l have largely ini;reiuHcd, as indicated by the 
pro«(iit output of two hundred and forty-five tons 
ilaily, and the manufacture of four hundred and 
eighteen different kinds of wire. 

The increase in the business of the corporation has 
been most rapiil since the introduction of barbed wire. 
In 1875 the number of hands employed was seven 
hundred ; in 1880 two thouHand one hundred, and at 

> " t'<«-k«t lt>n<l-IV>ok of ra(>|»r •ml Inn Win-," pnUUhrd liy W. k 



the present time, 1889, there arc three thousand names 
on the pay-roll of the company, for the most part 
heads of families, supporting directly not less than 
thirteen thousand persons, aud indirectly, a much 
larger number. 

i)t' the operatives, one thousand are Irish; nine 
hundred Swedes; five hundred .Vmericans; two hun- 
dred and thirty-six Armenians; forty-five Germans : 
other nationalities, three hundred and nineteen. 

The buildings of the corporation cover twenty-five 
acres of ground, and the machinery is driven by 
engines of seven thousand two hundred horse-power. 
The present oUicers of the corporation are: Philip L. 
Moeu, president and treasurer; Charles F. Washburn, 
vice-president and secretary ; Philip W. Mocn, assist- 
ant tresisurer and general superintendent; Charles G. 
Washburn, assistant secretary and counsel. The 
above, with George T. Dewey, Esq., constitute the 
board of directors. 

The Worcester Wire Company, William E. Rice, 
president and treasurer, is located on the Old South 
Worcester privilege, utilized for manufacturing pur- 
poses from the earliest times. Here is manufactured 
a variety of wire, including tedder, rake teeth, wire 
for hay bales, and barbed fencing, bridge rope and 
general wire ; bottling, baling wire; tinned mattress, 
tinned broom wire, harvesting wire on spools ; wire 
for the manufacture of screws, bolts, rivets, nails, 
buckles, staples, rings, books and eyes, pin, hair-pin, 
reed, harness, heddle, bonnet, brush, broom, hat, 
clock and umbrella wire ; also telegraph and tele- 
phone wire. 

Wire-working as an industry in Worcester was con- 
temporaneous with wire-making. 

In April, 1831, Jabez Bigelow manufactured, in 
Rutland, "wire sieves, such as meal sieves, sand rid- 
dles, etc., also manufacturts all kinds of safes for 
meat and provisions." 

In lS:341iewas located at the Stone building, Front 
Street, on the canal, where he manufactured " meat, 
milk, cheese and provision safes, wire sieves, grain, 
coal, sand, sugar and bakers' riddles. Fire fenders, 
sand screens, hatters' hurls, dusters for paper-mills, 
cellar and window guards, neiling, wire lace, bird 
cages, plate covers and bnum screens.'' 

In the following vcar Mr. Rigelow advertised for 
two girls who could take a loom to their dwelling. 

In 1845, Mr. Samuel Ayres began to weave wire 
for Mr. Bigelow in a .shop in Norwich Street. Mr. 
Bigelow then had three looms — one largo and two 
small ones — and the busincj's employed in all six 
hands,. among whom were Mr. iiigelow's sons. 

The business of wire-working was subse(|uently 
conducted by several firms, and finally consolidated 
in the NBtion»l Manufacturing Company, of which 
Mr. .lonah II. Bigelow, a son of Jabez Bigelow, is 
presiilcnt. This company has conducted a prosper- 
ous businc'*! for nuiiiy years, manufacturing a very 
large variety of wire goods. 



42 



MANUFACTURES. 



The business now conducted by the Wire Goods 
Company wiis commenced by Charles G. Washburn 
in the fall of 1880, on the top floor of the building 
then anil now occupied by C. H. Hutchins & Com- 
pany, in Allen's Court. The articles manufactured 
were wire goods for cotton and woolen machinery. 

September 12, 1882, it was incorporated under the 
name of The Wire Goods Company, and was con- 
tinued for a time in Allen Court, but was subse- 
quently moved into the brick factory in Union Street, 
the present situation. Meantime, the business has 
very much enlarged, employing at the present time 
one hundred and twenty hands. In 1888 the busi- 
ness of the Ayres Manufacturing Company was pur- 
chased and merged in that of the Wire Goods Com- 
pany. Among the articles manufactured are bright 
iron and brass gimlet-pointed wire goods of all kinds. 
Belt hooks, hitching rings, hand-rail screws, ham- 
mock hooks, double-pointed tacks, a large variety of 
wire goods and a number of patented specialties ; in 
fact, " everything in wire." Mr. A. W. Parmelee is 
president and treasurer of the company. 

Harablin & llussell, in Front Street, *e also en- 
gaged in the manufacture of a variety of wire gotids 
similar to those made by the National Manufacturing 
Company. 

Henry E. Dean, Austin St., manufactures a special 
line of general hardware and liouse goods, elevator and 
window guards, also all kinds of steel wire brushes. 

Another use to which wire is put in Worcester is 
the manufacture of rivets and burrs, which is con- 
ducted by Keed & Prince, 42 Gardner Street, in the 
basement of the pistol factory. This industry was 
established in 1886. 

It would be ditBcult to enumerate the variety of 
articles and machinery, manufactured iu Worcester, 
into which wire enters in one form or another. 

Copperas. — An interesting illustration of the 
utilization of waste products is found in the manu- 
facture of sulphate of iron or green vitriol — commonly 
known as copperas, and popularly, but erroneously, 
supposed to be a salt of copper — from the waste sul- 
phuric acid used iu cleaning wire. This waste acid, 
heavily charged as it is with iron, is taken to the 
works of W. E. Cutter & Co., where, after being 
evaporated in lead-lined tanks in which iron in the 
form of waste wire has been placed to further neu- 
tralize the acid, is drawn off into large cooling-tanks, 
and the copperas is deposited in green crystals upon 
sticks suspended in the liquid. Copperas is used in 
dyeing as a disinfectant, and in the manufacture of 
ink, and largely in the manufacture of Venetian red, 
also made by W. E. Cutter & Co. 7,000,000 pounds 
of copperas are manufactured by this company an- 
nually, representing about 700 short tons of metallic 
iron ; about one-third of the copperas is converted 
into Venetian red, of which the annual product is 
2000 tons. This is an oxide of iron paint, and is 
very extensively used. 



Copperas can also be obtained by the oxidation of 
iron pyrites — sulphate of iron. In 1830 a bed of iron 
pyrites was discovered in Hubbardston, and Mr. 
Bennett, of that place, with Messrs. John Green, 
Benjamin F. Heywood and James Cjreen, of Worces- 
ter, formed a company for the manufacture of cop- 
peras, and began operations ; but the enterprise did 
not prove successful. In December, 1828, the canal 
boat " Worcester," Captain Greep, among other 
things, brought one ton of copperas from Provi- 
dence. 



CHAPTER VI. 

M.\NUF.\CTURtNG AND MECHANICAL INDUSTRIES. 

Carriage and Cars — IVood-wjrking Machinery — Musical Lulntmentt — 
Envelopet. 

Carriages and Cars. — The business of carriage- 
making was conducted in Worcester at a very early 
day. Curtis & Goddard were in business in 1808. 

In 1822 Osgood Bradley came to Worcester, and 
started the* stage and carriage business in a small 
shop in the rear of what is now Parker Block in 
Main Street, and the same year moved into what is 
now known as Atchison's carriage-shop in School 
Street, where he manufactured and kept on hand 
mail-coaches, chaises, gigs, wagons, sleighs, cutters, 
etc. Associated with Mr. Bradley was John Man- 
ning, harness-maker, who afterwards, in 1825, went 
into business with Edward M. Burr, in the manufac- 
ture to order of coaches, chaises, saddles and harness, 
opposite Stiles & Butman's store, a few rods north of 
the brick hotel. 

Osgood Bradley & Co. continued in the manufac- 
ture of coaches, chaises and harnesses in School 
Street, near Captain Thomas' cofl!ee-house, and were 
succeeded by Solon Fay, September 2, 1829. 

Albert Tolman was born in Lincoln, Mass., and 
came from Concord to Worcester in 1833. At this 
time, it must be remembered, manufacturing in 
Worcester was in a very primitive condition ; the 
shops were all very small, and the proprietor, with 
one or two workmen and an apprentice, usually did 
the work. 

In 18.33, Mr. Tolman formed a co-partner.ship with 
Mr. Samuel L. Hunstable, and advertised to do chaise 
and harness-making in the yard of the Central Hotel. 
At this time a Mr. Goddard had a harness shop north 
of the Bay State House, near where the Waldo Block 
now is. Benjamin Goddard was a carriage maker, 
and had a shop on the corner of Waldo and Exchange 
Streets, where Walker's ice ofhce now is. 

A Mr. William Leggett was at that time an old har- 
ness-maker here, and was afterwards one of the first 
conductors on the Nashua Railroad. The firm of Tol- 
man & Hunstable continued until 1837, when the firm 



WORCESTER, 



43 



of A. Tolman & Co., wjis formed, composed of A. Tol- 
man and G. W. Russell, which continued forty years. 
Their work for many years was the manufacture of 
first-class family carriages, which they sent all over 
the world, some of them going to California, and even 
to Africa and Australia. Mr. Tolman once built a 
carriage for Mrs. Governor Duncan, of Ohio, before 
the days of railroad communication ; it was shipped 
to New Orleans, and from there went up the Ohio 
River to its destination. Now hundreds of carriages 
come from Ohio to the East by rail. 

Meantime Mr. Bradley had again gone into business, 
and in 1838, Osgood Bradley sold out his business to 
Rice, Breck & Brown, and prior to 1842, Bradley & 
Rice engaged in the manufacture of railroad cars, near 
the Western depot. This factory, which was one 
hundred and thirty feet by forty feet, was destroyed 
by tire, May 12, 1842. Mr. Bradley resumed business 
alone in 1849, and in 1850 had in his employ about 
one hundred men. His work was done in half a dozen 
buildings scattered over two and ahalf acres of ground, 
and at this time he had in process of construction 
from sixteen to eighteen passenger cars at an average 
price of three thousand dollars, besides a large num- 
ber of freight cars. 

Mr. Bradley continued in business alone until Jan- 
uary 1, 1883, when he took into partnership his sons, 
Henry O. and Osgood Bradley, Jr., the firm being 
Osgood Bradley & Sons. Mr. Bradley remained in 
the firm until his death, in 1884, the firm-name con- 
tinued and his sons carrying on the business. 

Mr. Bradley built the first railroad cars in this 
country at his shop in School Street. He built four 
cars for the Boston A Worcester Railroad, one of which 
was drawn to Boston over the old turnpike road by 
four horses. 

In 1847 Abraham Flagg, at his shop, 22 Exchange 
Street, manufactured I. Woodcock's patent " W'or- 
ce*teree,'' a two-wheeled vehicle. Woodcock, Jones 
& Co. also manufactured them. 

In 18")1 the carriage business in Worcester sup- 
ported about fifty familie.'i. The largest factory was 
that of Tolman & Ku.'isell ; it embraced some half- 
dozen buildings and gave employment to twenty-five 
hands. Most of their carriages were of the more ex- 
pensive kind. At this time they were fini-hing three, 
one for the Adams House, Boston ; one for a New Bed- 
ford merchant, and one for Mr. White, of Worcester, 
"the attentive and obliging hackman, whom every- 
body knows and everybody employs.'' Ikwides these 
heavier carriagea, Tolman A Russell manufactured a 
great many lighter vehicles of various patterns and 
prices, such ns chnisen, phaetons, rocknways and 
buggies. It is said that this firm at one time refuiied 
to take a large contract from the Government for the 
supply of army wagons for the use of the army during 
the Mexican War, solely on the gr<mnd that they be- 
lieved the war to be unjust and did not wish to parti- 
cipate in the profits of such injusti<'e- 
4 



The average number of vehicles manufactured by 
Tolman & Russell at this time was about one hundred 
per year. 

The establisliment of Breck & Wilder was situated 
in School Sleeet, employing somewhal fewer hands 
than Tolman & Russell. Their shop occupied the 
site formerly occupied by Osgood Bradley, and their 
business was confined especially to omnibuses and 
stjige-coaches. They built some of the largest omni- 
buses running between Boston and the adjacent 
towns, and had, in April, 18.31, just finished an omni- 
bus of immense proportions, named the " Jared 
Sparks," intended to run on the line between Cam- 
bridge and Boston. 

George W. Wilder built a new light carriage known 
as the "York wagon." William C. Whiting's car- 
riage factory, in Mechanic Street, employed ten hands 
on light carriages of all descriptions. 

More recently, Tolman k Russell have confined 
themselves almost entirely to the manufacture of 
hearses, which find a market in all parts of the United 
States. 

Mr. Tolman retired from the firm in 1879. The 
business is now conducted by H. J. & J. E. Russell. 

Under the old apprentice system in this business, 
boys were taken from fifteen to twenty-one years of 
age, and were paid from thirty to fifty dollars a year 
and their board. They bought their own clothes, and 
the last year of their apprenticeship were paid seven- 
ty-five dollars, which included a " freedom suit.'" 

About 1830 the working day averaged from twelve 
to thirteen hours, and all the work was hand-work, 
down to the rivets and bolts. The average wages of a 
good workman, $1.25 per day. 

As late as 186G a good many carriages were made 
by O. Blood & Suns, Tolman & Russell and Geo. T. 
Atchison, but most of the carriages used in this city 
and county were bought in Bo.ston. 

The best carriages sold to-day in Worcester are 
made in Merrimac and Amesbury, Mass. Cheaper 
carriages come from the western part of New York 
and the Western States. These are kept in stock 
by the dlfi'erent carriage depositarle.s, and probably a 
thousand sold yearly to supply the demand in the 
city and county, 

George C. Dewhurst who established the first reg- 
ular depoidtary in Worcester, manufactures sleighs. 
The business of Geo. T. Atchison Is largely in the 
manufacture of water-carts. 

Woon-WonKiNii Maciiinkkv. — The automatic 
wood-planing machine was invented by William 
Wood worth in 1828. 

I'reviouH to 1830 tlio manufacture of wood-working 
machinery was not carried on as a separate imluslry 
in any part of the rniled States. In that year the 
firm of J. A. Fay & Co., composed of .1. A. Fay and 
Edward Josslyn, commenced the business In Kecne, 
N. H., and a few years later united with the firm of 
C. B. Rogers it Co., at Norwich, Conn. 



44 



MANUFACTUKES. 



In April, 1839, Thomas E. Daniels was located at 
Court Mills, manut'ac'luring his patent planing- 
machines, " which are useful in squaring out timber 
for machinery, planing floor and other boards, door, 
bed-stead and table stuli", also for hollowing circles 
for water-wheel roundings and drum locks ; he also 
builds machines for matching boards, grooving floor 
plank, and under floor plank, where it is de?irable to 
put mortar between floors in factories to prevent fire ; 
recommended by Davis & Howe ; Kuggles, Nourse 
& Mason ; White & Boyden ; Henry Goulding & 
Co.; Horatio Phelps.'' He sold out his business to 
Deacon Richard Ball and Thomas Rice, who were 
succeeded by Ball & Ballard. 

In 1843, Goddard, Rice & Co., put in the first plan- 
ing-machine that went by power in Worcester County. 
In October, 1846, Arad Woodworth, New Worcester, 
showed a machine for planing window blind shades ; 
and in 1847, Charles Price, successor to Price & 
Hartwell, was engaged in building planing-macbines 
at No. 2 Central Street. 

In 1849 Howe, Cheney & Co., at Court Mills, had 
made arrangements to build the Daniels Planing, 
Machine, to plane all wood from eight to ten inches 
wide, and from four to fifty feet in length. 

At the Mechanics' Exhibition in 1851, Ephraim C. 
Tainter exhibited a Daniels Planer embodying many 
improvements. His factory was at the Junction shop, 
and he was soon after joined by Mr. Gardner Childs, 
who, in 1853, sold his interest to the Keene and Norwich 
companies already referred to, and the business was 
conducted as a branch under the name of J. A. Fay 
& Co., who also manufactured plows, power and foot 
mortising machinery, tenoning and sash-moulding 
and inatching-machines. The machines of their 
manufacture became known throughout this country 
and in Europe. In December, 1858, they were build- 
ing a fifty-foot planer and other machinery for the 
Don Pedro Railroad in Brazil. 

In 1858, and prior to tiiat time. Ball & AVilliams 
(Richard Ball and Warren Williams), successors to Ball 
& Ballard, were engaged in School Street, in the 
manufacture of planing-machines for wood-working 
and of improved sash and moulding-machines. They 
had just sent an improved Woodworth planer to 
R. Hoe & Co., of New York. Warren Williams re- 
tired in 1865. Mr. Ball, with his son-in-law, built 
the factory in Salisbury Street, now occupied by 
Witherby, Rugg & Richardson. 

In 1859 J. A. Fay & Co. occupied one hundred feet 
of the second floor of Col. Estabrouk's shop at the 
Junction, and employed thirty hands in making wood- 
working machinery, and had then recently sent a saw- 
mill to Rio Janeiro. 

lo 1859 Mr. Fay died, but the business was carried 
on by his widow and the remaining partners. 

In 1864 they opened a warehouse at 107 Liberty 
Street, New York, for the sale of their products, and 
were the pioneers there in this line of business. 



In 1877 William B. Mclver and his brother, J. C, 
purchased the tools, stock and good-will of the old 
firm and continfted the business under the name of 
Mclver Bros. & Co. They engaged in the general 
manufocture of wood-working machinery on a more 
extensive scale than had been done in the former com- 
l)anies. Mclver Bros. & Co. now occupy the shop 
below the Junction, built by Wood, Light & Co., and 
in addition to their other business ar§ largely engaged 
in the manufacture of coflee machinery for Central 
America and other coflee-growing countries. 

Witherby, Rugg & Richardson began business in 
1864, in the Armsby building, with twenty men, and 
employ at this time, at their location in Grove Street, 
seventy-five men. They make a large variety of wood- 
working machinery, which goes to all parts of the 
country. 

Musical Instruments. — The principle of produc- 
ing music by the vibratory motion of a reed is most 
simply illustrated in the jewsharp, and the develop- 
ment of this principle through the successive stages 
of harmonium, accordion, elbow melodeon, with foot- 
pedal for working the wind-chest, has resulted finally 
iu the cabinet organ of to-day. This development 
has taken place within the present century. 

The business of organ-building has been conducted 
in Worcester for more than forty years. In 1847 
Mr. N. B. Jewett was engaged here in making me- 
lodeons, and in 1849 Mr. Milton M. Morse, who came 
from Concord, N. H., manufactured seraphines, me- 
lodeons and oolians for church and parlor use. The 
first melodeon was copied from the accordion. Mr. 
Abraham Prescott, of Concord, N. H., manufacturer 
of bass viols and violoncellos, made an accordion for 
Mr. James A. Bazen, of Canton, who thereupon had an 
enlarged one made by Mr. Morse, then in his employ. 

In 1847 the firm of Farley, Pierson & Co., con- 
sisting of John A. Farley, John G. Pierson and M. M. 
Morse, began business, which was conducted in the 
old Burnside Building, in Main Street. The first 
cases for this company were made by Partridge & 
Taber. The first melodeon made was a four-octave 
melodeon, held in the lap, with two rows of keys, 
shar[>sand flats. The round keys were pushed in like 
the keys upon the small concertinas which are made 
now. The sharp keys had black rings painted on 
the ivory. The melodeon was held in the lap, and, 
while the keys were operated by the hands, the elbows 
worked the bellows. These instruments were greatly 
enlarged until they were put upon legs and called 
aeraphines, the bellows still being worked with the 
elbows. 

The cabinet organ is the melodeon on a large scale. 
Modern instruments have the exhaust bellows, while 
the old instruments have the pressure bellows. At 
the beginning this company had six hands; Mr. 
Morse did the tuning, Mr. Farley made the reeds, 
and Mr. Pierson the wood-work. Subsequently, in 
1852, Piersou & Loring succeeded to the business. 



WORCESTER. 



45 



One of tbe first melodeoD-tops made by this com- 
pany wiis twenty-two inches long, twelve inches wide, 
with four octaves. The bellows w^re made in two 
folds ; when the wind went out of one fold it came in 
and tilled the other. At the last New England Fair 
one of these instruments, made forty years ago, was 
shown and operated. 

Taylor & Farley were manufacturing melodeons in 
IS.j.'), and in IStii harmoniums for parlors, churches 
and schools. In ISOS their factory in Hermon Street 
was erected. 

In 1860, the Steam Music Company was formed to 
manufacture the calliope, an instrument designed to 
produce music by steam — the invention of a Mr. .T. C. 
Stoddard. 

In June, LSoS, E. Harrington & Co., at the Junction 
shop, manufactured melodeon reeds, succeeded by A. 
iJavis & Co. 

In 1859 the American Steam Music Company was 
located in Estabrook's building and employed twelve 
hands in the manufacture of calliopes and terpsi- 
choreans. • 

"The latter is an entirely new thing, and this com- 
pany has just completed the first one as an e.xperi- 
ment. Its notes are agreeable and pleasant to the ear. 
The music for these instruments is arranged by M. 
Arbuckle, leader of Fisk's Cornet Band, on the same 
floor." 

In 1860 the calliope was introduced into England. 

The Loring & Blake Organ Company, located in 
Union Street, was incorporated in 1808. Messrs. 
Loring & Blake, the founders, were at one time with 
Taylor & Farley Organ Company, and first engaged in 
business in Southbrid;;e Street, in French's building, 
and afterwards moved to the building in Hammond 
Street, which was later burned down and never re- 
built. From there they moved to the Adams Block, 
between Main and Southbridge Streets, the site of the 
new Post-Ollice, and also hired some rooms of E. S. 
Stone, their mill-work being done in Cypress Street. 
They now occupy the large (ive-story brick factory in 
I'nion Street. 

The lumber used by this company comes compar- 
lively dry, but they have two large dry-houses with a 
capacity of fifty thousand feet. From the dry-houses 
the lumber passes to the mill-room, is cut up into the 
proper wizes and glue<l; it then goes through the 
scraping and smootliing-macliines. This company 
uses a machine for carving which does many parts of 
the work formerly done by hand, although some of 
the work can still be done cheaper by hand than by 
machinery. From the mill-room, with its multipli- 
city of saws and wood-working machinery the work 
goes to the case-room, adjoining which is the tuning- 
room ; here the tuner has a set of reeds pitched, from 
which the reeds are fitted for the organ. Formerly the 
reeds were left perfectly straight, but now are bent 
somewhat, which is supposed to give a superior tone. 
This is a return to the earlier practice, as the reeds of 



the first melodeons were made in this way. This com- 
pany uses a patent stop motion of its own on its organs. 
The work of the factory is all divided into depart- 
ments; the reeds and reed-boards are purchased out- 
side, and put into cases in the factory. The bellows 
stock is also purchased. 

The Taber Organ Company in Hermon Street — N. 
H. Ingraham, president, William I?. Baker, treasurer, 
— was established in 1872 as the Worcester Organ 
Company. Shortly afterwards, Mr. William B. Taber, 
who had been with Loring & Blake Organ Company, 
bought the business, and later, in 1877, the Taber 
Organ Company was formed, starting with fifteen 
hands. The company now employ forty. Their pro- 
duct goes all over the world. The changes and im- 
provements made in organ-building, have, for the 
most part, been in the styles of cases, in couplers and 
tremolos — the change in the latter being firom the 
valve to the fan tremolo. 

The company now known as the Worcester Organ 
Company is a continuation of the buiiness formerly 
conducted by E. P. Carpenter, and has now com- 
menced the manufacture of pianos. The manufac- 
ture of organ-reeds, while closely connected with the 
manufacture of organs, is a distinct business. Pre- 
vious to 1840 reeds were made by hand. About that 
time Jeremiah Carhart, of New York, devised ma- 
chinery for making the organ-reed to be used with 
exhaust bellows, which he had invented and patented. 
Redding (t Harrington, of Worcester, also devised a 
machine for making the reeds. Mr. A. H. Ham- 
mond bought a one-third interest in this business 
and, finally, all of it. The Hammond shop, in May 
Street, now does a large domestic and foreign busi- 
ness, and employs two hundred hands. 

George W. Ingalls & Co., Hermon Street, manufac- 
ture organ-reeds and reed-boards, Parker tremolos 
and octaVe couplers and fan tremolos. 

The MunroeOrgan Reed Company was established 
in 1800. It was incorporated in 1809 with a capital 
of fl.S.aOO, and employed ten men. In 1875 the 
capital was increa.sed to $00,000, and in 1878 they 
added to the manufacture of reeds that of automatic 
instruments; since then they have employed some- 
thing like 250 men at one time. In 1879 they move<l 
to their present location in Union Street, where they 
have the most complete facilities ami most ingenious 
machinery for the prosecution of their business. 
They use from 150,000 to 200,000 pounds of sheet 
brass per year, from which the rough frame-work of 
the reed is punched; it is then planed and milled; 
the reed grooved and the tongue securely fastened in 
place by machinery; another machine letters the 
reeds, of which 15,000 are manufactured daily. The 
reed-boards are matle of the best Michigan quartered 
pine. The places for the reeds are cut in the reed- 
boards by machinery. The product of this company 
goes all over the world. The export business amounts 
to $100,000 per y«ar. 



46 



MANUFACTURES. 



Envelopes. — Envelopes were tirst used in England 
between 1»30 and 183t), but only in a very limited 
way, as tbe u.se of an envelope called for double post- 
age, the law then being that postage should be charged 
for the number of pieces of paper. This explains the 
custom, then prevailing, of Ibldiug the letter-sheet to 
make it answer the purpose of an envelope. 

The Penny Post was established in 1840 by Sir 
Rowland Hill, and a demand for envelopes was at 
once created. 

Up to this time, and for several years after, all the 
envelopes used were cut by hand ; each stationer had 
blank patterns of several sizes of envelopes, and with 
the aid of a sharp penknife cut the blanks three or 
four at a time. On rainy days these blanks were 
folded and stuck together in the form of envelopes. 
There are to-day, in this country, stationers in busi- 
ness who in early life made in this way all the envel- 
opes sold in their stores. 

The first machine for making envelopes was in- 
vented in 1845 by Edwin Hill, a brother of Sir Row- 
land Hill, the father of penny postage. 

Worcester has taken ii foremost place in the devel- 
opment of the manufacture of machine-made envel- 
opes. The third United States patent on a machine 
for making envelopes was issued to Dr. Russell L. 
Hawes, of this city, in 1S53; the two preceding pat- 
ents were upon machines of no practical value, so 
that it may fairly be said that the first successful ma- 
chine in the United States for making envelopes was 
invented and patented by a Worcester man and built 
in the city of Worcester. 

Dr. Hawes was then agent for Goddard& Rice, and 
saw in New York some hand-made envelopes, very 
likely made by a Pole named Karcheski, who is said 
to have made the first hand-made envelopes in this 
country. 

Dr. Hawes thought he could make envelopes by 
machinery, and, returning to Worcester, built a ma- 
chine in the shop of G.iddard & Rice, which was sub- 
sequently patented. The blank for the envelope was 
first cut out by a die, then the sealing flap was gummed, 
the envelope blanks being spread out, one overlapping 
the other, and the gum applied with an ordinary 
brush. When the gnm was dry the blanks were in- 
troduced into the folding-machine, which was a self- 
feeder, and in this Dr. Hawes applied the principle 
which is used on every successful envelope-machine 
in existence. 

Up to this time all attempts at making envelopes 
by machinery had dealt only with the folding of the 
envelope, the blanks being fed to the machine by 
hand. Dr. Hawes went a step farther, and attached 
a feeding device to his folding-machine. 

The blanks, having been cut and gummed on one 
edge, were fed to the machine in bunches of five 
hundred; gum was applied to the under side of the 
picker, which descended on top of the pile of blanks; 
the top blank adhered to the picker and by it was 



lifted to the carriage, which conveyed it under the 
plunger by which the blank was forced into the fold- 
ing-box. SmaU wings then folded over the flaps of 
the envelope and the gum by which the blank had 
been elevated to the carriage now performed a second 
office, that is, sticking the envelope together. The 
envelopes thus made by Dr. Hawes were sold to 
Jonathan Grout. 

Jt required the services of one girl to attend the 
machine, while it took half the time of another girl 
to spread the gum on the sealing-flaps, so that three 
girls could produce a finished product of about twenty- 
five thousand envelopes in ten hours. 

Thinking the machine had reached its maximum 
product, Dr. Hawes, who meantime had moved to the 
factory of T. K. Earle Manufacturing Company in 
Grafton Street, sold out, in 1857, to Hartshorn & 
Trumbull (Charles W. and George F. Hartshorn and 
Joseph Trumbull), who were succeeded in 1861 by 
Trumbull, Waters &Co. (Joseph Trumbull and Lucius 
Waters). In 1866 Hill, Devoe & Co. succeeded to the 
business. Mr. W. H. Hill is the present proprietor. 

The principal improvements made in machinery 
have been in increasing the capacity, and with that, 
improving the quality of the manufacture, as the en- 
velopes made on the old machines would not now be 
considered saleable. 

At the present time one girl attending two ma- 
chines can produce seventy thousand envelopes in 
ten hours. Mr. Hill owns the patent on his machines, 
they having been assigned to him by the inventor, in 
his employ, Mr. Abraham A. Rheutan, who has done 
much to contribute to improvements in envelope 
machinery. 

The Reay machine is also used in this establish- 
ment. This is the invention of George H. Reay, of 
New York, and was patented in 1863. From one 
hundred and twenty-five to one hundred and fifty 
hands are employed in this factory. 

The next Worcester man to make valuable improve- 
ments in envelope machinery was Mr. James G. 
Arnold, who, in 1858, devised a machine cutting the 
material for an envelope from a roll of paper, and 
also gummed and folded the envelope complete in 
one operation. He introduced into this machine the 
drying chain. By this invention, the gum, which 
theretofore had been applied to the sealing-flap with a 
brush, was applied to the envelope by the machine, 
and after the machine had folded the envelopes they 
were deposited in this drying chain, or endless belt 
with fingers, the envelopes being kept separate while 
the gum on the envelopes was drying. 

This principle is a feature in nearly all envelope 
machinery of the present day, excepting the machines 
invented by D. W. & H. D. Swift. 

While Mr. Arnold's machine was not a practical 
success, it had in it the foundation principles upon 
which the success of the self-gumming envelope- 
machine depends. 



WORCESTER. 



47 



In 1864 G. Henry Whitcomb came into possession 
of the Arnold mactiines, and began the business of 
eiivelope-maicing in a small building; in .School Street, 
where the engine-house now stands. In lS(i.'> he 
removed to the north corner of Main and Walnut 
Streets, where he remained till January, I'Siitj, when 
he removed to Bigelow Ojurt ; he was then making- 
one hundreil thousand envelopes per day. This fac- 
tory was the first building in the United States used 
exclusively fur the manufacture of envelopes. 

At that time Mr. David Whitcomb sold out his in- 
terest in the hardware store of Calvin Foster, and 
joined his son, the firm being G. Henry Whitcomb 

In 1873 the business was moved into the present 
factory in Salisbury Street, additions to which were 
built in 187S and in 1886. In 1884 the firm became 
a corporation, known as the Whitcomb Envelope 
t^orapany. The machines used have been built on 
their own premises, and the patents upon them are 
owned by the company. The machines are the in- 
vention of Me<ars. D. W. & H. D. Swift, who, in 
1871, built one upon an entirely new principle, capa- 
ble of making thirty-five thousand envelopes in ten 
hours. 

In 1876 the Messrs. Swift invented their first self- 
gumming machine. A girl could run two of these 
machines, making seventy thousand envelopes in ten 
hours. The product Wiis automatically registered, 
these being the only machines in the world with a 
clock athichment. 

Besides the invention of four distinct envelope- 
machines, the Messrs. Swift have patented an auto- 
matic printing-press, for printing envelopes. The 
blanks are fed to the machines in three or four 
thousanil lots, picked up singly by the air-feed, and 
carried into the press, where they receive the im- 
pression. They arc then discharged on the opposite 
side of the machine and piled up, ready for the 
envelope folding-machine. 

The construction of this press is very simple. It 
has a stop-motion attachment, and is so delicately 
arijusted that a single hair stretched across the attach- 
ment will spring the let-off motion and the press will 
stop. Seven presses, each capable of producing 
30,000 imiiressions in ten hours, can be run by a man 
and girl, making a total of 200,000 impressions with 
only two operatives. The great efficiency of this ma- 
chine will be appreciated when it is roni-iilcrcd that 
11,000 to 12,000 impressions is a large day's work for 
an operative on an ordinary job press. 

One hundred and fifty bands are employed in the 
Whitcomb Envelope Factory. Their daily product 
is one million envelopes, with a capacity of double 
that amount. 

To illustrate the efficiency of the Swifl machine, 
owned by the Whitcomb Envelope Company, it can 
be said that Herman Schott, the largest envelope- 
maker in Germany ; Alexander Pirie & Son, Aber- 



deen, Scotland, the largest envelope-makers in the 
world; and Fenner & Appleton, of London, one of 
the largest envelope-makers in England, several 
years ago equipped their factories with the Swift 
machine. 

The Logan, Swift & Brigham Envelope Company 
was incorporated February 1, 1884. Messrs. Logan, 
Swift & Brigham were for a long time associated with 
the Whitcomb Envelope Company. Their machinery 
is the invention of Messrs. D. W. & H. I). Swift, who 
have been mentioneil in connection with the Whit- 
comb Company. Logan, Swift & Brigham employ 
one hundred hands. 

Upon reviewing the history of these three compa- 
nies, it is apparent that Worcester has been most 
prominently identified with the inception and devel- 
opment of machine-made envelopes. The most im- 
portant contributions that have been made to this art 
have come from Dr. Hawes, Mr. Arnold, Mr. Kheutan 
and the Messrs. Swift, who have taken out upwards 
of twenty patents. The production of a single oper- 
ative has been increased from less than 10,000 staple 
envelopes per day to 70,000. 

In 1X64 si.\ males and sixty females were employed 
in the envelope business in Worcester. The capital 
invested was $.10,000. 

To-day three millions of staple envelopes are made 
daily, which is between one-fourth and one-third 
of the entire product of the United States, and 
constant employment is given to four hundred 
operatives. 



CHAPTER VII. 
WORCESTER— ( Co«//««^«/. ) 

MANUFACTURING AND MECHANICAL INDUSTRIES. 

Fire-Arnu—Iroit and SUci DaMtiitu—Scrac$—S(tam-Eiigi«a—Bmlm. 

Fire-Arms. — Harding Slocomb, December 6, 1820, 
notifies his friends that he has established his business 
as gunsmith in Worcester, opposite Jeremiah Robin- 
son's drug store, a few rods south of the Courl-Mouse, 
where he manufactures twist and straight rifies, fowl- 
ing-pieces, and has musket-guns and pistol-flints for 
sale. These fire-arms were, of course, all made with 
the old flint-lock. 

At this time Asa Waters (2d) had a gun-factory in 
Millbury, where he made government arms. Ware & 
Whcelock, at the top of Front Street, opposite the 
City Hall, in 182'», manufacturcil guns, and in IS.'HS 
Joseph S. Ware and John R. Morse were established 
in Main Street, where guns, rifles, fowling-pieces and 
muskets were made to order. 

Ethan Allen is ideniified with this business from an 
early day up to the time of his death, and contributed 
very largely to improvements in nielhoils ami ma- 
chinery. Mr. Allen was born in Bellitigham, Mass., 
in 1810, where he received a common-school cducalioo, 



48 



MANUFACTURES. 



His first mechanical employment was in a machine- 
shop in the town of Franklin. 

In 1831 he was engaged in manufacturing shoe 
cutlery in Milford, and in 1832 moved to what was 
then known as New England Village, in the town of 
Grafton, where he commenced the manufacture of the 
Lambert Cane gun, in connection with shoe cutlery. 
This was the beginning of the fire-arms business 
which he prosecuted so successfully thereafter. 

In 1833 he built a shop, which he occupied for some 
time for the manufacture of firearms and shoe-kit; 
this is still standing and used for manufacturing pur- 
poses. In 1834 Mr. Allen manufactured the saw-handle 
target rifle-pistol, and it is said that in 1835 he took 
one of these pistols to New York, and showed it to a 
Mr. Speis, who was engaged in selling fire-arms, and 
asked if there would be any demand for such an article. 
Mr. Speis looked at the pistol, and said : " Do you 
make these ? " Mr. Allen replied " Yes." " What is 
your price?" Mr. Allen named it. " Why don't you 
ask twice as much ? " was the reply ; " I will take all 
you can make." 

Thus encouraged, Mr. Allen returned to New 
England Village and began to make the pistols. Soon 
after he invented the self-cocking revolver, which was 
widely known at that period, and subsequently during 
the Mexican War and the California gold discoveries, 
during which time the business was most prosperous 
and profitable. As a gold-miner, Mark Twain 
"Roughing It," gives an amusing description of his 
experience with this self-cocking revolver, and the 
degree of skill in marksmanship which he had acquired 
by constant practice. " There was," he says, " no safe 
place in all the region round about." On one occasion 
he brought down a cow fifty yards to the left of the 
target, when an interested spectator persuaded him to 
purchase the carcass. 

About 1837 Mr. Allen took into partnership his 
brother-in-law, Mr. Charles Thurber, who remained 
in business with him until 1856, when the firm was 
dissolved, Mr. Thurber retiring. 

Early in the fifties he associated with himself 
another brother-in-law, Mr. T. P. Wheelock, who 
died in 1863, the firm being Allen & Wheelock. In 
1842 the company moved to Norwich, Conn., where 
they carried on the manufacture of fire-arms. In 1847 
they came to Worcester and located in Merrifield's 
building, where they remained until the great fire of 
1854. Immediately after, they erected a shop at the 
Junction, now occupied by the L. D. Thayer Manu- 
facturing Company and the Worcester Elevator Com- 
pany, where the business was for some years prose- 
cuted by them and their successors. 

The removal from Norwich was the practical be- 
ginning of the fire-arras business in Worcester; since 
which time it has been a most important industry. 
Previous to that date there was nothing that could 
properly be called a manufactory ; there were a few 
small shops, but nothing more. 



In 1865, subsequent to the death of Mr. Wheelock, 
Mr. Allen took into partnership his two sons-in-law, 
Messrs. S. Forehand and H. C. Wadsworth, under the 
name of Ethan Allen & Company, and so continued 
until the death of Mr. Allen, January, 1871 ; after 
that, the business was continued by the surviving 
partners, under the firm name of Forehand & Wads- 
worth. Since 1883 the business has been prosecuted 
by Mr. Forehand alone, and since 1876 has been 
located in the Stone shop at the Junction, known as 
the Old Tainter Mill. 

Mr. Allen was a mechanic and inventor of superior 
capacity. He invented a doubled-barreled breech- 
loading sporting gun, and was probably the first to 
use steel shells in connection with such an arm ; these 
shells can be re-loaded indefinitely. He was the 
pioneer, in this country, in the manufacture of double 
barreled shot guns and fowling pieces. 

Between 1855 and 1858 a change was made from 
the system of muzzle-loading to breech-loading fire- 
arms, although the breech-loading system had been 
adopted in Europe before that date, and, at the same 
time, the change was made from loose to fixed 
ammunition. 

Allen & Wheelock were among the first to adopt 
the breech-loading system and to introduce the 
metallic cartridge. 

Neither in this country nor in Europe had metallic 
cartridges been made except by hand — a slow and 
most tedious process. Mr. Allen recognized the ne- 
cessity of making the metallic cartridges by machin- 
ery, and invented and patented the first set of ma- 
chinery that was ever built for that purpose. The 
heading-machine, which is used by every manufac- 
turer of metallic cartridges in the world, was his in- 
vention, and has stood the test of litigation. Prior 
to this, no one, so far as is known, had conceived of 
any process of forming the head except by spin- 
ning it up in a lathe. 

At the Centennial Exhibition in 1876 the Govern- 
ment exhibited a set of this machinery, and there 
was nothing in the Mechanical Exhibition which at- 
tracted more attention. The whole process, from be- 
ginng to end, was the product of Mr. Allen's brain. 

Probably no fire-arms manufacturer in the country 
made so great a variety of arms as he: from the 
whale bomb-lance to the cheap Fourth of July pistol, 
and every variety of fowling-piece. 

Formerly all work was done with the file, cold 
chisel and anvil, but methods have greatly improved, 
until now there is no finer work done than what is 
popularly spoken of as " gun work." The parts are 
all interchangeable and made with the greatest 
nicety. 

Charles Thurber, at one time associated with Mr. 
Allen, was a successful teacher in Worcester, and is 
credited with having invented the first type-writing 
machine, which is .said to be still in existence. 

Franklin Wesson, after his return from California, 



WORCESTER. 



49 



1809, began to manufacture fire-arms in Merrilield's 
building io Exchange Street. The first arm he man- 
ufactured was a single-shot breech-loading pocket pis- 
tol using a cartridge. 

Mr. \Ve--won during the war manufactured twenty 
thousand stand of arms for the Government. At 
present he manufactures long range, short range, 
sporting rifles and pocket pistols. 

Mr. Frauk Copeland, 17 Hermon Street, established 
a manufactory for fire-arras in 1803 ; he was for- 
merly in the employ of Allen & Wheelock, at their 
old shop at the Junction. He first manufactured re- 
volvers, and in KSTiJ devised a single-shot breech- 
loading sporting gun, called "The Champion." 

Mr. Copelaud's second gun is a single-barreled 
sporting gun, called the " F. Copeland Gun," which 
is more strongly constructed, better in action and 
capable of standing heavier charges, and altogether 
more durable. 

Harrington tt Richardion Arm* Company. — This 
business was established in 1871 by F. Wesson and 
G. H. Harrington, under the firm-name of Wesson & 
Harrington, for the purpose of manufacturing a shell- 
ejecting revolver, invented and patented by Mr. Har- 
rington, and the business was located at 18 Manches- 
ter Street, in the building owned and used by Mr. 
Wesson as a rifle factory, a business in which he had 
been engaged for many years. This firm continued 
until 1874, when Mr. Wesson's interest was purchased 
by Mr. Harrington, who soon afterward formed a co- 
Dartner>hip with William A. Kichardson, under the 
firm-name of Harrington & Kichard.-ion, and the 
manufacture of the same style of revolver was con- 
tinued. This revolver, which was the starting-point 
of the present business, was an improvement in con- 
venience over any other then made, it being so con- 
structed as to load and have the exploded shells 
removed by the sliding ejector, without detaching the 
cylinder or removing any portion of the arm ; and it 
is believed to have been the first successful shell- 
ejector used on a metallic cartridge revolver. It 
had a large sale for a number of years. Various 
other styles of revolvers have been added, improve- 
nicnt-i made and patented from time to time. In the 
fall of 187t; the business wa.s removed from Manches- 
ter Street to the more commodious quarters 31 Her- 
mon Street. Here new and improved machinery and 
appliances were brought into operation, and have 
been constantly increased from year to year, and ad- 
ditional room occupied. 

In 1880 .Me.isr!*. Harrington & Richardson beinme 
the sole licensees iu the United States for the Uianu- 
facture of the celebrated Anson tt Deeley hammerlesa 
gun, an English invention. This wai a high cost 
arm, ranging in price from eighty-five to three hun- 
dred dollars. Thf manufacture of thru gun wan con- 
tinued for about five yearn. In January, 1888, Har- 
rington & Richardson dissolved their copartnership, 
and reorganized an a stock company, with the follow- 



ing oflicers: Gilbert H. Harrington, president ; Wil- 
liam A. Richardson, treasurer; George F. Brooks, 
secretjiry. 

The business of the company is the manufacture 
of revolving fire-arms exclusively, which are produced 
of various styles and of dillcrcnt prices, from the 
plain, substantial, solid frame arm, from which the 
cylinder is removed by the withdrawal of the centre- 
pin upon which it revolves, to the more elaborate 
hinge-frame revolver, employing the automatic shell- 
ejecting system, by which all the exploded shells are 
thrown out automatically by the act of opening the 
arm for reloading. 

All the arms manufactured by the company have .i 
high reputation for quality, beauty of appearance 
and reliability. Very few persons not practically ac- 
quainted with this business have any idea of the 
amount and nicety of machinery and special tools 
and appliances required, and, where revolvers are 
produced in large numbers, of the care and close 
inspection necessary to maintain a high standard. 
If one would undertake to manufacture a new revol- 
ver of good quality and the average intricate con- 
struction, and were already provltlcd with all the 
machinery that can be purchased of machine tool 
builders, adapted to this business, it would require a 
year to construct one small revolver, and make the 
tools and appliances necessary to produce the arm in 
quantities and of good quality. 

Iver Johnson & Company, established in 1871, are 
located at 44 Central Street, and employ two hundred 
hands. Their products are air pistols, guns, revolvers 
and other arms; ice and roller skates. 

January 30, 1856, notice is found of a new rifle 
invented by B. F. Joslyn, the manufacture of which 
was controlled by Mr. Eli Thayer. It was claimed to 
be superior to the Sharpe's rifle, both on account of 
the rapidity of its loading and the simplicity, safety 
and cheapness of its construction. 

In March, 1809, the <S>// said that Mr. Joslyn and 
Mr. Freeman, of New York, had purchased the large 
stone shop at South Worcester, where they expected 
to commence the manufacture of pistols under Jos- 
lyn's patent at an early day; and, in 1800, the War 
Department ordered from Mr. Joslyn one thousand 
of his rifles, which up to that lime was the largest 
single order for fire-arms ever given to one contractor 
in the country. The Navy Department had previ- 
ously ordered five hundred. 

In April, 1801, they were busy <lay and night at 
the Lower Junction shop manufacturing Joslyn's 
breech-loading carbines for the War Department. 
Fort Sumter had then been fired upon and the de- 
mand for arms became pressing. All the iron-working 
establishments in the city were busy furnishing the 
Government with ordnance. Nathan Washburn was 
making five tons of rifle-barrel iron per ilay for the 
Springfield .\rmory, and was under contract to fur- 
nish one hundred thousand muakct barrels. 



50 



MANUFACTURES. 



Osgood Bradley was at work on gun-carriages and 
forges. Wood & LigKt were busy making macliinery 
for tlie government at Springfield Armory. Novem- 
ber, 1861, Shepard, Lathe & Co. were under contract 
for Colt, the Burnside factory and Springfield Ar- 
mory. Allen & Wheelock had two hundred hands 
at work for the government and private parties. L. 
W. Pond was building twenty light rifle-cannon of 
his invention, called the "Ellsworth Gun,'' at the 
shop of Goddard, Rice & Co. This was a "breech- 
loading rifle-gun, four feet long, six inches in diam- 
eter at the breech and 3J at the muzzle, with a IJ 
inch bore, carrying a chilled conical ball weighing 
18 ounces, which it will throw three miles. The gun 
weighs, carriages and all, 450 lbs. Cost, $3.50." 

July 11, 1862, a patent was granted to Theodore 
R. Timby, of Worcester, for improvements in a re- 
volving battery-tower and improvements for dischar- 
ging guns by electricity. Joslyn's breech-loading 
carbines were in high favor at this time with the 
government. 

In 1862 Ball & Williams (in School Street) em- 
ployed one hundred men in the manufacture of the 
Ballard rifle, — a cavalry rifle which they continued 
to make until the close of the war. This was a 
breech loading arm, using a .42 metallic cartridge, 
and the invention of Mr. Ballard, who had been a 
foreman for Ball & AVilliams. 

December 2i), 1862, the invention of Stevens' Pla- 
toon-gun, invented by W. X. Stevens, of Worcester, 
is noticed. 

In April, 1863, Charles S. Coleman invents a 
breech-loading gun. 

September 6, 1865, the Green Rifle Works was at 
the Junction shop. 

January 15th, Ethan Allen & Co. were making 
from 20,000 to 50,000 cartridges per day. 

Iron and Steel Business. — Nathan Washburn, 
at one time, worked for William A. Wheeler as a 
journeyman founder, and while in his employ in- 
vented a car-wheel, which he patented in 1852. In 
company with Jlr. Converse, of his native town of 
Tolland, Conn., Mr. Washburn began the manufac- 
ture of these wheels in Franklin Street, next to 
Bradley's car-shop, and continued there until 1857, 
when the new building was erected near the freight 
depot of the Western Railroad, since occupied by 
Washburn Iron Company, and later by the Worces- 
ter Steel Works. The building, as designed, was to 
be occupied in part by Nathan Washburn as an iron- 
foundry for the manufacture of car-wheels; the main 
building was to contain machinery for re-rolling iron 
rails and for making locomotive tires, while the 
western end was to be occupied by Henry S. Wash- 
burn for a rolling-mill and a wire-factory. Mean- 
time Mr. George W. Gill became associated with 
Nathan Washburn in the rail and tire business, and 
very likely suggested engaging in it : for he had 
been employed as foreman aud contractor ia charge 



of the iron work upon the cars built in Mr. Bradley's 
shop, where Mr. Gill must have become more ©r less 
familiar with the railroad business. Previous to the 
introduction of the wrought-iron rail, rails were 
made of wood, with flat bar-iron on the upper sur- 
face ; when the rails were loosened, the ends, called 
" snakes' heads," were often forced up through the 
car-bottoms, to the great discomfort and danger of 
the passengers. Mr. Gill was born in West Boyls- 
ton, and learned the blacksmith trade in this city. 

June 1, 1858, he retired from the partnership, but 
continued with Mr. AVashburn as manager of the bus- 
iness. 

In 1859 this business had reached considerable 
proportions, employing from one hundred and seventy 
to one hundred and ninety hands, and turning out 
forty tons of iron per day. 

At this time, Mr. Washburn, in company with 
Canadian capitalists, established a rolling-mill at 
Toronto for re-rolling rails for the Grand Trunk Rail- 
way ; he attended to the equipment of the mill, and 
three large steam-hammers were made for it by Wood, 
Light & Company. 

In 1860 there was but one establishment in New 
England doing railroad work of this character, and 
that was located at South Boston. The Washburn 
car-wheel was very popular, and there was a good 
demand for re-rolling rails and for locomotive tires. 
Five hundred thousand dollars capital was employed 
in the business, and from two hundred and twenty 
to two hundred and forty men with a pay-roll 
amounting to seven thousand dollars per month. The 
works extended over four acres of ground. In the 
foundry, one hundred and seventy-five feet by sixty 
feet, forty car-wheels were cast each day and eight 
tons of machinery. In the rolling-mill, two hundred 
and fifty rails weighing forty tons were rolled daily, 
and also four tons of tire for driving-wheels, while 
seven puddling furnaces produced twenty tons daily 
of bar or puddled iron. 

The trip-hammers for working over and welding 
together the worn-out rails were of large size, made 
by Wood, Light & Company, at their shop at the 
Junction, by whom the first set of gun-barrel rolls 
were made in 1860 for Mr. Washburn; these were 
modeled after an English set in the armory at Spring- 
field. 

In 1864 the AVashburn Iron Company was formed, 
with Nathan Washburn, president, George W. Gill, 
manager, and Edward L. Davis, treasurer. 

In 1864 Mr. Washbnrn went to Europe, and when he 
returned, brought with him an equipment for a small 
Bessemer plant of about one ton capacity, which he 
partially built but never completed. This must have 
been one of the earliest attemj)ts in this country to 
erect a plant for the manufacture of Bessemer steel, 
as the first steel actually made was at Wyandotte, 
Mich., in the fall of 1864. 

In 1865, Mr. Washburn sold out his interest to his 



WORCESTER. 



51 



associates and built the works in tirafloii Street, now 
occupied by tlie Washburn Car Wheel Company, 
where he continued the business of mauufacturing car 
wheels until about ISCO, when he sold out his wheel 
business to the Washburn Iron Company, and engaged 
in the manulacturc of steel tire car wlieels, and later 
started a foundry in Hartford to be run in connection 
with the Worcester shop. Mr. Washburn sold out 
his interest the same year altogether, but the business 
continued under the name of the Washburn Car 
Wheel Company, the product being locomotive truck 
and tender wheels. 

Mr. Washburn then went to Allston, and remained 
until within two years, and is now engaged at South 
Boston perfecting a new solid cast Bessemer wheel. 
After leaving Allston, his plant was leased by Jonas 
S. Hart & Co. ; it was burned down, later re-built, and 
is now occupied for the manufacture of wheels by 
Samuel D. Xye, under the firm-name of Jonas S. Hart 
&Co. 

Mr. N"ye has been connected with this business 
since 18.59, having been associated with Mr. Wash- 
bum at that time and was with his successors in the 
business until the spring of 1888, when he resigned 
his position as manager of the Worcester Steel 'busi- 
ness and removed to Allston. 

The Washburn Iron Company continued the busi- 
ness of re-rolling iron rails until 1881, when the 
demand almost entirely ceased by reason of the gen- 
eral adoption of the Bessemer steel rails, which re- 
sulted in a great saving in railroad construction. Iron 
rails were delivered in Boston in the summer of 18G8 
at eighty-eight dollars per ton of two thousand two 
hundred and forty pounds, while steel rails were de- 
livered in Boston, November, 1888, at thirty dollars 
per gross ton. 

In the winter of 1881 they began the importation of 
steel blooms, and in the spring of 1882 began rolling 
steel rails. Mr. Gill died April 13, 1882, and Mr. 
George M. Rice then acquired an interest in the busi- 
ness, which was managed by the Gill estate until 
October, 188.3, when the entire property pas.sed into 
the hands of Mr. Kice and his associates, who organ- 
ized the Worcester Steel Works. The work of rolling 
steel liloom.s into rails continued until the fall of 18.S.(, 
when work was began upon the Bessemer steel plant, 
and the first st«el was made in June, 1884. Later, an 
open hearth furnace was put in, and during the year 
1888 two new trains of rolls have been added, moilern 
heating furoaces, etc., for the matiufacturu of mer- 
chant barn. 

About four hundred men are employed in these 
works, producing two hundred and thirty tons daily, 
made up of rails for steam and horse railroads, blooms 
billets and shapes, merchant bars and castings. For 
over thirty years this businest has had a prominent 
place among the iiidufttries of Worcester, being at one 
time the largest single industry in the city. It has 
followed the complete revolution of the rail business 



consequent upon the introduction of Bessemer steel, 
and to-day stands equipped with all the modern 
appliances for the production of iron and steel. All 
this has followed from the invention of a car-wheel 
in 1852 by Nathan Washburn in the Wheeler foun- 
dry in Thomas Street. 

ScKEWS. — July 19, 1809, a patent was granted to 
j Abel Stowell for cutting wood screws, but no screws 
appear to have been made in W^ircester until 1831, 
when C. Read & Co. commenced the manufacture of 
wood screws at Northville, as has been stated in con- 
nection with the early history of the wire business. 
In April, 1836, mention is made of made of a machine 
for making wood screws, invented by C. Read & Co., 
" which will cut thirty gross of screws per day with 
one pair of dies, and one boy can attend from two to 
four machines, according to the length of the screw."' 
The business is then spoken of as growing and flour- 
ishing, but the parties in interest became discouraged 
and the business was moved to Providence, and con- 
tinued there for a time under the name of C. Read & 
Co., but finally came under the control of the com- 
pany now and for many years known as the American 
Screw Company. Since thsjt time no wood screws 
have been made in W^orcester. 

Worceiter Machine Screw Company. — Mr. A. W. 
Gilford, who, when a boy, was apprenticed to parties 
in Providence, in 1853-5-1 engaged in making wood 
screws, and later was employed in Worcester by .\llen 
& Wheelock in their fire-arms business, and by Ball 
it Williams in making the Ballard rifle for the Gov- 
ernment, in 186(5 received from the Worcester Me- 
chanics' Association a testimonial for a case of milled 
machine screws, which were the first made for the 
market in the city or county, and probably in the 
Slate. The Worcester Machine Screw Company 
started in a very small way, with a few machines of 
their own manufacture, made after some of Mr. Gif- 
ford's design-. Originally, it was a co-partnership 
between A. W. Gilford and E. A. Bagley, but later 
Mr. Giflbrd became and has continued to be the sole 
proprietor. The business has grown, many changes 
have been made in the machinery, and important pro- 
ces^^es introduced, so that this company is to-day able 
to coni])etc with any concern in the country in this 
line of business, in which everything depends upon 
accuracy and efficiency in the tools, machines and 
fixtures. 

The machine used in the screw business prior to 
1866 was what was known as the turret-head machine, 
used by gunsmiths, sewing-machine makers, and at 
the Springfield Armory. This was not well adapted 
to the class of work required of it. Mr. fiifl"ord was 
the inventor of the machine used by himself and 
others which superseded it, and which has remained 
in use till the introduction of newer machinery. The 
old turret-head machine consisted of a revolving 
traverse spindle, with a dial fur Imliling a scries of 
tools. That, in turn, was succeeded by a machine in- 



52 



MANUFACTURES. 



vented and patented by Mr. GifFord September 28, 
1875, and improved December 26, 1876, in which the 
blanks are cut automatically to the length required 
for the screw and fed into the machine, which is so 
arranged th.at they are simultaneously milled, 
threaded and pointed. 

The product of this factory now goes to all parts of 
the country. From eighty to one hundred hands 
are employed, and some four hundred tons of iron 
and steel used per annum ; the factory is located at 
75 Beacon Street, a brick building, two hundred and 
fifty by thirty-six, two stories high, with a basement 
under the main building, with a wing forty by thirty -six 
for office and packing room. The steam-power is fur- 
nished by a one hundred horse-power boiler, and an 
eighty horse-power Corliss engine. Besides his im- 
provements and patents on screw machinery, Mr. 
Gilford has taken out patents on small hardware 
articles, such as tweezers, cutlery, etc. 

McCloud, Crane & Minter, manufacturers of ma- 
chine screws, are located at 57 Union Street. The 
business was purchased in 1872 of James H. Gray, 
who in 1870 had bought a patent of Bagley's. Mean- 
time, in March, 1869, Mr. IMinter started the same 
business and continued up to 1884, when he consoli- 
dated with McCloud & Crane, and the firm became 
McCloud, Crane & Minter. Their business is milled 
machine work, standard and machine screws, studs 
for steam-engines, pumps, etc., and machinists' taps, 
to which they have recently added finished and case- 
hardened nuts. Improvements have been made from 
time to time in the machinery, and their capacity has 
been increased, but the advance has been for the most 
part in tlie direction of turning out an increased 
quantity from a given number of machines, and in 
the department of thread-cutting. Beginning with 
twelve hands, they now employ forty-four. Their 
iron is purchased in the square, round and hexagon, 
and also in the shape of wire drawn to size. 

A. A. Bedard & Co., 89 Exchange Street, are also 
engaged in this business. 

Steam-Engines. — The mills in Worcester de- 
pended almost exclusively on water or horse-power 
until 1840. Mr. Wm. A. Wheeler is said to have 
had a steam-engine of same sort to run a fan in his 
foundry prior to his removal to Brookfield, and upon 
his return to Worcester, in 1831 or 1832, he abandoned 
this engine and substituted horsepower, which he 
used until 1840, when he put in another engine. 

Howe & Goddard, at the Eed Mills, had an engine 
of some kind in 1836. 

Mr. Wheeler is credited in Bishop's "History of 
American Manufactures," with having the first steam- 
engine employed in the State west of Boston. 

In 1840 Mr. Merrifield put in an engine of from 
four to six horse-power, opposite the location of his 
present oflice ; and probably the first efficient steam- 
engines in Worcester were put in at this lime by both 
Mr. Merrifield and Mr. Wheeler. 



The demand for power at this time was larger than 
the supply, so that an engine purchased one year was 
discarded the next for a larger one. Between 1840 
and 1850 Mr. Merrifield put in five engiues. The 
last one, put in in 1854, is still running, 

Steam-engines were not manufactured in Worcester 
to any extent until 1864. Mr. Wro. A. Wheeler 
made an engine in 1842 for Wm. T. Merrifield. 

Jerome Wheelock, at one time engineer of the 
Washburn Iron Works in this city, commenced his 
business career by making and introducing the sec- 
tional ring and piston packing, patented in 1864, and 
afterwards extensively used in every type and make 
of engine. Meeting with marked success, he com- 
pleted, in 1865, arrangements for its manufacture with 
William A. Wheeler, of Worcester. The demand 
soon became such that he left the Washburn Iron 
Company, to give his entire attention to the packing 
business. In the fall of 1865, or spring of 1866, he 
formed a partnership with Charles A. Wheeler. 

This led to a considerable repair business, and that 
in turn led to the invention by Mr. Wheelock of sev- 
eral improvements in steam-engines. In the fall of 
1869, the first engine embodying these improvements 
was built; this proved to be the beginning of a consid- 
erable business. The earlier engines of this type were 
constructed with a single rotary valve, which proved 
imperfect in many respects, but contained the germ 
of success. The growth of the packing business and 
the prospect of engine-building occasioned the re- 
moval to 178 Union Street in 1869, where the busi- 
ness has since been continued. 

Step by step the Wheelock engine has been im- 
proved, until in 1873, at the American Exhibition in 
New York, the four-valve engine was introduced to 
the public. This employed the rotary tapered valve, 
suspended on hardened steel spindles — a new type of 
valve, which has become widely known and used. 
Mr. Wheelock has invented and patented numerous 
improvements relating to the steam-engine, such as 
feed-water heaters, condensers, and various details of 
the Wheelock engine. 

The building of these specialties, together with the 
piston-packing and a large increase in the engine 
business, required successive enlargements, until the 
two floors of the present location were occupied, and a 
force of from fifty to seventy-five men employed. Dur- 
ing the interval from 1873 to 1884 a great number of 
engines were built, including a large proportion of 
machines of five hundred horse-power. In 1883 and 
1884 the most important of Mr. Wheelock's inventions 
was being developed and tested, the patents upon 
which were issued in 1885. This was the so-called 
new system valves, undoubtedly the most original 
and important departure in engine construction since 
the invention of Corliss. This well-known valve sys- 
tem has for its main idea the combining of the valve 
valve-seat and operating parts within a shell or tap- 
ered plug which is driven into a corresponding hole 



WORCESTER. 



53 



in the cylinder and retained in jjliiie without boiiuets 
or bolts. It also employs an entirely novel method of 
driving the valve, and combines a number of imiirove- 
nients securing economical results in the use of steam. 

Patents were taken out in all the larger manufac- 
turing countries of the world, and much of Mr. 
Wheelock's time during the years 1886 and 1887 was 
spent abroad negotiating for the manufacture of the 
new system engine. His success was such that at the 
present time it is being extensively built in all these 
countries. During his absence his home business so 
greatly declined that in the latter part of 1887 he 
decided to otl'er it for sale, which resulted in its pur- 
chase by a company organized for the purpose of car- 
rying on the building of the new system engines. 
The " Wheelock Engine Company '' took possession 
in January, 1888. It is rapidly increasing the busi- 
ness and improving the facilities to meet the demand 
for the improved engine. New works will be built, 
new e<|uipment added and other facilities provided. 

The Wheelock engine is generally acknowledged 
to contain some of the best principles of engine con- 
struction at present known. Great credit is due to 
Mr. Wheelock for his inventions, which for original- 
ity and importance have been hardly exceeded. His 
principle of construction bids fair to gain as wide 
adoption as did that introduced by George H. Corliss 
forty years ago. It is being applied to marine en- 
gines, in which field its opportunities are enormous, 
and its success already demonstrated. 

K. H. Bellows commenced engine-building in Au- 
gust, 18(54, renting a shop in Mcrritield's building, in 
Exchange ISlreet. His specialty was portable engines, 
ranging from the smallest up to forty horse-power. 
He also built s'ime small stationary engines, not ex- 
ceeding fifteen to twenty horse-power. 

In 18<i5 Byron Whitcomb became a partner in the 
business, the firm-name being Bellows & Whitcomb. 
The same line of manufacture was continued until 
18ti8, when the firm was dissolved. 

The Wa.shburn Steam Works were incorporatetl in 
1867, with (ieorge I. Washburn, president. The 
object of the company was to build a novel, high- 
speed, valvelcsa steam-engine, the invention of Mr. 
Washburn. The rhief peculiarity of the engine and 
the essence of the invention was in so arranging the 
pistons of a pair of cylinders that each acted as a 
valve to the other, performing the functions of inlet 
and outlet of steam, thus doing away with valves. Its 
arrangement was upright, with twin cylinders, each 
having several pistons on one piston-rod. The 
movement of these compound pistons, passing over 
and by suitable ports conne<'ting the cylinders, pro- 
duced the requisite opening and closing for the ad- 
mission and releiue of the steam. The stroke of these 
engines was proportionally very short, an<l the rota- 
live speed con8e<piently great, which features, in con- 
nection with the other mechiiiiical objections, proved 
fatal to the success of this ingenious invention. 



The business was commenced in ISC)"), in a small 
up-stairs shoj) in one of the blocks in Main Street, 
between Park and Southbridge Streets. In the spring 
of 18(59 the works were removed to the Wheeler 
building, Hermon Sreet, and again, in the spring of 
1871, to Central Street. 

The defects of the engines soon becoming apparent, 
Mr. Wiishburn turned his attention in another direc- 
tion, the outcome of which was the Washburn Steam 
Pump, embodying some of the principles of the 
engine. The manufacture of this pump was begun in 
the fall of 18G8, and continued with success for a 
number of years. A serious interruption in the busi- 
ness resulted from the death of 3Ir. Washburn, in the 
spring of 1871. In 1872, A. Burlingame, for four 
years previous foreman of the Washburn Steam 
Works, bought the business and continued the manu- 
facture of the Wa.shburn Steam Pumps on a consid- 
erable scale. 

A. Burlingame became connected with the Wash- 
burn Steam Works as foreman of the shop in 18(58. 
He bought the business in 1872, continuing under 
the well-established name of the Washburn Steam 
Works, and made a specialty of the Washburn Steam 
Pumps until, 1880, the change to the present firm- 
name, A. Burlingame & Company, was made. About 
this time the attention of the firm was turned to 
steam-engines as a supplement to the pump business, 
which was sullering from the competition of the injec- 
tor as a boiler feeder. From a general repair busi- 
ness they gradually went into building plain slide- 
valve engines up to fifty horse-power, followed by an 
improved pattern lialanced slide-valve engine, and 
later by a (.'orliss type engine, each of which is now 
built by this firm in a full line of sizes u|> to one 
hundred horse-power. Additional to engine build- 
ing is the making of boiler feed-pumps, and the fit- 
ting of complete steam plants, beside a large general 
mill-work and repair business. The location of the 
Washburn Steam Works, in Central Street, was aban- 
doneil by Mr. Burlingame in IStilt, when he moved to 
School Street, remaining in that place until 1883. 
During this year, 1888, he moved to the present loca- 
tion in Cypress Street. 

S. E. Hartlian began the manufacture of station- 
ary, semi-portable and launch engines on a small 
scale at 44 Central Street, in the year 1874. 

Increasing business up to 1878-7!) required the 
employment of from twenty to forty men, engaged 
mostly in building engines of small power of the 
types mentioned. In 1882 he sold to the Glen Uock 
Manufiicturing Company, of (ilen Rock, Pa., that 
portion of the business relating to slnlioiutry and 
semi-portable engines, including patterns; after 
which he gave his whole attention to building yacht 
and launch engines, high and low pressure and com- 
pdiMi'l, together with complete Hleiiin iiulfit.s. Be- 
coming engaged in i-leclric work, the engine building 
has been gradually abandoned until at the present 



54 



MANUFACTURES. 



time he is practically out of the business, engaging 
in it only to the extent of building an occasional 
engine for electric purposes. 

Besides many stationary engines, he has built the 
steam machinery for about fifty-three yachts and 
launches, amongst which was a very fine private yacht 
for Jacob Lorillard, another for Mary Anderson, and 
one for Chauncy Ives, of New York, as well as seven 
smaller boats for Lake Quinsigamond, Worcester. 

Chirk & Knight established the business of engine- 
building in 1877. They manufactured upright engines 
up to thirty horse-power. The business is now con- 
ducted by E. O. Knight.' 

Mr. Frank Copeland, gunmaker, 17 Hermon Street, 
makes small vertical steam-engines from one to twenty 
horse-power. 

BoiLER.s. — The Stewart Boiler Works were estab- 
lished in 1864 as Stewart & Dillon. Mr. Charles 
Stewart learned his trade in Hull, England. He 
came to Worcester first to manufacture boilers for 
Bellows & Whitcomb, who were building engines. 

In 1869, C. Stewart succeeded to the business, and 
prior to 1872 had purchased the boiler business of 
Rice, Barton & Pales. 

Mr. Stewart and William Allen were in partnership 
from 1872 to 1875, when they dissolved. The business 
has since been conducted by Charles Stewart and C. 
Stewart & Son. Their castings are all made in the 
city, and their boiler-plate from American steel. 
They manufacture locomotive and stationary boilers. 
William Allen & Sons were established in 1875, 
after the dissolution of the partnership between 
Stewart & Allen. They were first situated in South- 
bridge Street, near the Junction, and in 1823 removed 
to their present location in Green Street, in the old 
shops of the New York Steam-Engine Company. 

They manufacture all classes of steam-boilers, — 
tubular, locomotive and marine boilers, feed-water 
heaters, bleaching kiers, dye-well extractors and iron 
tanks of all kinds ; iron cases for water-wheels and 
boilers for residences; have an iron and brass- 
foundry, and make their own castings. They occupy 
a substantial brick two-story building, a boiler-shop 
and foundry, and occupy sixty thousand feet of land. 
Mr. William Allen is an Englishman, and served 
his apprenticeship at the works of James Watt, Bir- 
mingham, England. 

> I am indebted to Mr. E. E. Hill for much of the material need in 
the article on steam-engines. C. G. \V. 



CHAPTER VIII. 
WORCESTER— ( Cb«/j«a^/^.) 

MANUFACTURING AND MECHANICAL INDUSTRIES. 

Boots atid Shoei—Bif/dow Heeling •Macliine—LeaVter Belting — Boot and 
Shoe Machinery — Last* — Vies. 

Boots and Shoes.— From Caleb A. Walls Remi- 
niscences we learn that Captain Palmer Goulding, a 
cordwainer, came to Worcester just previous to the 
first organization of the town, and built a house on the 
east of the Common, where his son Palmer, Jr., and 
grandson Daniel afterwards lived. They also carried 
on the business of tanning, shoe-making, making 
malt, curing hams, etc. Their place of business w^aa 
in front of their dwelling, and occupied ground 
between, what are now Front, Mechanic, Church 
and Spring Streets. 

Almost every town had a tanyard, and leather of 
sufficiently good quality was made to serve the needs 
of the shoemakers and saddlers. 

The embargo and War of 1 81 2 greatly stimulated the 
cordwainers, who began to make boots and shoes in 
quantities in anticipation of the wants of their cus- 
tomers, and when a few dozen pairs had accumulated, 
they were put in saddle-bags and taken to market, 
principally Bristol, R. I., the first wholesale boot and 
shoe market in the country, it being a sea-port town. 

At this time the bottoms of all boots and shoes were 
sewed on ; putting them on with pegs was an invention 
of a later date, and very greatly reduced the cost ; this 
improvement aided materially in the development of 
the industry. Among the first to adopt it was Joseph 
Walker, of Ilopkinton, Mass. 

The next step in the development of the boot and 
shoe industry was for the makers of leather to sell it 
to merchants in the larger towns and cities, who, in 
turn, sold to the shoemakers, and they, in course of 
time, paid for it out of the product, in boots and shoes, 
which were sold by the leather dealers to the jobbers 
in Bristol, Providence, Boston and New York. These 
cities held the trade for many years. 

The next step in the development was the separa- 
tion of the leather business from boot and shoe manu- 
facturing, the firms dealing in the leather requiring 
money payment for leather and ihe boot and shoe 
manufacturers selling their product to firms dealing 
in boots and shoes only, who, in turn, sold them, 
usually by the case of sixty pairs of shoes and twelve 
pair of boots, to country store-keepers, who from that 
time have kept them in stock as universally as dry- 
goods or groceries. 

Among the first towns in which this business was 
begun was Hopkinton ; then in the adjoining town of 
Milford; and about the same time in several other 
eastern towns ; shortly afterwards in Grafton, where 
Oliver Ward learned his trade of Clark Brown. Mr. 
Ward started in business in North Brookfield in 1810, 



WORCESTER. 



55 



and from the history of North Bruokfield we learn 
that " he made his own pegs; maple loyrs were sawed 
in sctlious of the proper length, which were then 
split with a long knife and the splint divided into 
pegs. Tlie next improvement was to cut the points of 
the pegs in the blocks with a knife and mallet before 
splitting ; and the next was to cut the points with the 
tail gouge driven like a carpenter's plane; and the 
next to do the whole by machinery.'' 

Tyler Batchellcr, of Brooktield, also learned the 
shoemaker's trade in Grafton, and, returning to 
Brooktield, commenced business in ISllt, with his 
brother Ezra, who learned his trade of Oliver Ward. 

Worcester was more than a quarter of a century 
behind these towns in the boot and shoe business, 
but has to-day an important place in this industry. 

Previous to 1S13 the only man engaged in boot and 
shoeuiaking in Worcester was John Tyler Hubbard, 
whose shop was on Front Street, corner of Spring. 

Ue would hardly be called a manufacturer at the 
present day, as he did business in a very small way, 
and, when he had accumulated a few dozen pairs, 
would take them to Bristol, R. I., for sale. 

In 1813 John Dolliver and Fos:er Newell made for 
the market ladies' morocco and kid shoes opposite the 
Court-Uouse. 

In February, 1818, Earle & Chase had a quantity 
ofgoai-skin leather dressed in the manner of black 
kid, which they were having manufactured into shoes 
and boots. 

In 1824 Benjamin B. Otis commenced business near 
the harness shop of Enos Tucker, and continued until 
1850, part of the time with John C. Otis, as B. B. 
Otis & Co. In 1850 C. H. Fitch became a partner, the 
firm-name being Otis, Fitch & Co. The same year 
B. B. Otis retired, and a new firm was organized of 
Fitch &. Otis, which continued until 1800. For three 
years from 1863 the firm wa.s Dike & Fitch, and from 
that time until 1886 the business was conducted 
under the name of C. H. Fitch & Co. 

In l&IH Scott & Smith were manufacturing ladies' 
shoes of various kinds, nearly opposite the Central 
meeting-house, at the sign of "The (iolden Slipper," 
where they made ladies' kid and double prunella 
walking shoes and pumps. 

In 18.'i4 Charles Wolcot and Nathaniel Stone had a 
-hop three doors south of the Centre School-house, 
under the -f-'i/i* jirinting-ofTice, where they manufai:- 
tured birfils and shoe*, alsf> ladiea' kid, morocco an<l 
•atin shoea. In the same year Thomai Howe & Co., 
:it the head of Front Street, advertised for eight or 
ten journeymen to make bootees for the Military 
Academy at Went I'oint. 

Barnard tS: linger were at the same time making 
goods on Front Street, corner of ."Summer. 

In 1835 T. S. Stone began to manufacture in 
Wathington S<|uare, and in that year and the year 
following, he took a premium for his boot* at the Cat- 
tle Show. 



In 1839 he admitted as a partner, Ansel Lakin, 
who wiis with him but a short time. Mr. Stone con- 
tinued with various partners until 1864, when Samuel 
Brown became associated with him. In 1868 A. G. 
Walker entered the firm, and the business was con- 
ducted under the name of Stone, Walker & Brown. 
In 1871 the firm was again changed, Messrs. Brown 
and Walker retiring and Mr. Stone's sons being 
admitted. The business was continued until Mr. 
Stone's death, in 1873. 

George and Ebenezer H. Bowen came from Leices- 
ter, and commenced the currying of leather, as early 
as 1830, from which time for twenty years, they were 
in addition, directly and indirectly connected with 
the manufacture of boots and shoes. 

In 1837 Ansel Lakin began in a small way in the 
village of Tatnuck, and was afterwards in i)artnership 
with Timothy S. Stone. In 1841 he was doing busi- 
ness with Bemis & Williams, and after this he contin- 
ued with various partners for nearly twenty years. 

In 1838 \Vm. A. Draper came from Spencer and 
started in business in Pleasant Street. In 1842 Otis 
Corbet was admitted to the firm and they continued 
until 1847, when Mr. Draper went out and the busi- 
ness was conducted by Mr. Corbet alone. In 1850 
Mr. Draper returned, and for two years the firm was 
Wm. A. Draper & Co. 

In 1842 E. H. Bowen and William Barker began 
to manufacture as E. H. Bowen & Co. Barker retired 
in 1844, and Bowen formed a partnership with T. S. 
Stone, under the firm-name of Bowen & Stone, which 
was dissolved in 1848. After this, Bowen continued 
alone until 1857. 

In 1843 Joseph Walker came to Worcester from 
Ilopkinton, and began business in a wooden building 
in Front Street. In 1844 the firm ot Barker & Walker 
was formed, occupying a building at the corner of 
.Main Street and Lincoln Square. Mr. Barker retired 
from the firm in 1846. Joseph Walker continued 
alone until 1851, when his eldest son, J. H., being of 
age, was admitted, and the firm-name was Joseph 
Walker & Co., their place of business being at Lin- 
coln Square. ('•. M. and A. C. Walker, two other 
sons, were admilcd to partnership on their becoming 
of age. In 18G2 this firm dissolved, J. Walker and 
his son, A. C. Walker, continuing under the old 
name until 1871. 

In 1845 Cyrus, William K. and George W. Bliss 
moved their business from Milford to Worcester, and 
continued until 1853. (k-orge W. Bliss then suc- 
ceeded to the business and moved into the Merrifield 
Building in Union Street, retiring In 1857. 

Levi A. Dowley was at this time nninufacturing 
lirogan shoes in a small way. 

In 1846, on the di«s(dntion of the partnership of 
Barker <fe Walker, Wni. Barker commenced business 
on his own account, and was alone until 1850, when 
Courtlnnd Newton was admitte<l, remaining in the 
firm till 1853. In 18.'>7 Newton Penniman was 



56 



MANUFACTURES. 



admitted. Mr. Barker afterwards continued for sev- 
eral years alone. 

In 1847 J. Munyan was manufacturing shoes in 
Main Street, and continued until 1850. 

In 1849 Rufus Wesson, Jr., came to Worcester from 
Shrewsbur)', and was in business in Harding's Block, 
4.5 Front Street, until 1873. His son, J. E. Wesson, 
began alone in 1868, and is now doing a large busi- 
ness in Mulberry Street. 

In 1851 W. A. S. Smythe commenced the manufac- 
ture of shoes at the corner of Union and Market 
Streets. In 1860 his brother, Eobert L. Smythe, 
joined him. They gave up manufiicturing in 1872, 
being then situated in Foster Street. 

In 1852 Hiram French succeeded to the business of 
Wm. A. Corbet, and continued the manufacture of 
boots until 1871. 

In 1853 Aaron G. Walker commenced manufactur- 
ing, and continued alone until 1857, when he went 
into company with E. N. Childs. 

In 1853 C. O. Houghton began the manufacture of 
boots at Lincoln Square. In 1857 he admitted his 
brother. Alba Houghton, into the partnership of C. 
C. Houghton & Co., and continued with him until 

1864, when Alba Houghton retired. In 1864 the 
partnership of Houghton & Heywood was formed 
and was dir^solved in 1867. H. B. Adams was then 
admitted, and the firm of Houghton & Adams con- 
tinued for one year. 

Mr. Houghton was alone until 1871, when Wm. 
Warren became a partner, the firm-name being C. C. 
Houghton & Co. Mr. Warren retired in 1884. At 
present the firm consists of C. C. Houghton, F. N. 
Houghton and E. W. Warren, and is known as C. C. 
Houghton & Co., which is situated in Houghton's 
Block, corner of Front St. and Salem Square. 

In 1853 E. N. Childs came to Worcester from Mill- 
bury, and engaged in business with Albert Gould for 
one year. In 1854 Albert S. Brown became a partner. 
They did business as Childs & Brown until 1857, when 
Mr. Brown retired, and A. G. Walker was admitted 
into the firm of E. N. Childs & Co. In 1862 Mr. 
Walker retired, and Mr. Childs continued under the 
same firm-name until 1881. During the last few 
years his sons were interested with him in the busi- 
ness. 

In 18.55 Luther Stowe came to Worcester from 
Grafton and commenced business in Mechanic Street, 
soon after which he formed a partnership with E. A. 
Muzzy, as E. A. Muzzy & Co. The firm dissolved in 

1865. Mr. Stowe and Mr. J. F. Davenport, under the 
title of L. Stowe & Co., commenced business in Wash- 
ington Square. In 1875 Mr. Davenport retired, and 
the business was continued under the firm-name of 
Luther Stowe & Co. In 1880 they moved to a factory 
in Grafton Street, and still continue there under the 
old firm-name, Mr. Stowe's son now being a partner. 

In 1857 David Cummings began with Mr. Hudson, 
the firm-name being Cummings & Hudson. Mr. 



Hudson retired in 1862, and Mr. Cummings continued 
alone until 1866, when he left Worcester. He re- 
turned in 1880, and with his partners, E. H. Hurlbert 
and D. E. Spencer, built and occupied the factory in 
King Street, now occupied by them. 

E. A. Muzzy and Luther Stowe commenced manu- 
facturing, in 1857, as E. A. Muzzy & Co., continuing 
until 1865, when Mr. Stowe went out and Mr. Muzzy 
retired from manufacturing, the business being con- 
tinued by G. L. Battelle and F. A. Muzzy, under the 
old name of E. A. Muzzy & Co., until 1875. 

In 1860 H. B. .Tenks came to Worcester from North 
Brookfield, and commenced the manufacture of boots 
and shoes, continuing until 1871. 

Also, in 1860, H. B. Fay came to Worcester from 
Shrewsbury. He continued to manufacture until 
1887, most of the time under the firm-name of H. B. 
Fay & Co. 

In 1862 J. H. Walker commenced business in Eaton 
Place. In 1864 George M. Walker was admitted, the 
firm-name being changed to J. H. & G. M. Walker. 
They afterwards built a factory in Front Street and 
one in Eaton Place. In 1870 they built and moved 
to a factory in Water Street, the capacity of which 
was doubled in 1879. G. M. Walker retired in 1870. 
Samuel Davenport took his place, and in 1880 H. Y. 
Simpson was also admitted, the firm-name always 
remaining J. H. & G. M. Walker. The specialty of 
this firm was the widely-known " Walker boot." They 
retired from business January, 1888. 

In 1863 J. W. Brigham & Co., who had been manu- 
facturing for three or four years in a small building 
near the junction of Main and Southbridge Streets, 
built and moved into the factory in Southbridge 
Street, where they now are. 

In 1864 Bigelow & Trask commenced the manufac- 
ture of shoes in Austin Street. In 1866 they were in- 
corporated under the name of the Bay State Shoe and 
Leather Company, and have been doing business 
under that name ever since at the same place. The 
headquarters of this corporation is in New York, 
J. Munyan, before referred to as manufacturing in 
1847, is vice-president and Worcester agent. 

In 1805 E. H. and O. N. Stark formed a partnership 
under the name of E. H. Stark & Co., and have con- 
tinued without change, and are at the present time 
located in Main Street, above Myrtle. 

In 1866 Simon J. Woodbury, of Sutton, moved a 
building from that place to the site of the shop now 
occupied by Goddard, Fay & Stone, and he, with 
others, manufactured for a short time. In 1866 Raw- 
son i*t Linnell moved their business from West Boylston 
to Worcester, bringing with them twenty-two families 
and commenced manufacturing in Pleasant Street, 
near Main, under the name of E. C. Linnell & Co. 
In 1868 they built a factory on the site of the Wood- 
bury building in Austin Street. Mr. Linnell with- 
drew in 1869, and a new firm was organized under the 
name of D. G. Rawson & Co., consisting of D. G. 



WORCESTER. 



57 



i;aw-on, D. S. Goddard, W. B. Fay, which continued | 
until 1881. j 

In 1807 Albu Houghton withdrew from the firm of 
C. C. Houghton & Co. and commenced buiiinesa on 
his own account under the name of Alba Houghton 
.\: Co. and continued uutil 1882. In 1867, on the dis- i 
i-olution of the firm of Houghton & Heywood, S. R. 
Hey wood went into business for himself and was 
alone until 1873, when Oicar Phillips waa admitted 
as a partner, and business was done under the firm- 
name of S. R. Heywood & Co. In 1880 they moved 
to their new factory in Winter Street, and in 1884 
were incorporated under the name of the Heywood 
Boot and Shoe Company. The specialty of this cor- 
poration is the widcly-lcnown " Wachusett Boot," and 
line sewed shoes. 

In 1871, A.G. Walker and Samuel Brown withdrew 
from the firm of Stone, Walker & Brown, and, com- 
mencing under the name of Walker & Brown, con- 
tinued until 1879, when Mr. Walker retired. Mr. 
Brown went on alone under the same firm-name, 
and is at present doing business as Walker & Brown, 
In Barton Place, his son being a partner. 

In 1871, Whitcomb, Dadmun & Stowe commenced 
in Soutbbridge Street, and continued for four years, 
when the firm dissolved, and C. C. & C. H. Whitcomb 
formed a new partnership, under the name of Whit- 
comb Brnthers, and were manufacturing for nine 
years, when the firm was again <lis8olved. They were 
succeeded by C. C. Whitcomb and E. B. Miles, under 
the name of Whitcomb & Miles, who are now manu- 
facturing in Shrewsbury Street. 

In 1872, H. B. Adams, H. W. Hastings and A. C. 
Walker, began business in the block corner of Allen 
Court, second story, and then moved to Cherry Street, 
and, under the name of Adams & Hastings, con- 
tinued until 1878. 

In 1875, J. F. Davenport left the firm of L. Stowe 
& Co., and he, with Alfred W. Long, started in Eaton 
Place as Davenport & Lfjng, continuing until 1885. 

In 1875, O. L. Battelle, under the name of G. L. 
Battelle & Co., succeeded K. \. Muzzy & Co., and 
engaged in the manufacture of a cloth-boot, called 
" Alaskas," and custom boots and shoes. He is sit- 
uated in Mechanic Street. 

In 1878, .1. U. Green, coming from Spencer, began 
business in Cherry Street, under the name of J. U. 
Green «$£ Co., afterwards moving to Front Street, 
where he continued in business until IHK.'i. 

In 1881, upon the dissolution of the [lartnernhip of 
D. G. RawBon & tV)., C. S. Goddard, W. B. Fay ami 
A. M. !*tone. formed a new company, under the name 
of fioddard. Fay «$: Stone, and continued in Imsinms 
until .Tanuary 1, 1889, when they were succeeded by 
Goddard, Stone & Co. They have always occupied 
the factory where they are now located in Austin 
Street, the capacity of which was doubltnl by them 
in 1886. 

Id 1883, Bemis & Fletcher began businesa in Me- 



chanic Street, under the name of the Waverly Shoe 
Company, and are at present located in Front Street. 
Their specialty is the ""Waverly School Shoe." 

In 1888, F. W. Blacker, who was with tlie firm of 
J. H. & G. M. Walker from 1865 until their retire- 
ment, succeeded to the business, leasing the old 
Walker factory, in Eaton Place, with its machinery, 
tools and patterns, and continues to make the widely- 
celebrated " Walker Boot." 

Until the year 1868 nearly all the boots and shoes 
manufactured in Worcester were hand-made, ma- 
chinery, excepting the sewing-machine, being little 
used. 

Worcester manufacturers were always slow in 
adopting boot and shoe machinery, and they did not 
use it until long after it had been adopted in other 
places. From 1850 lo 1868 a large proportion of the 
boots and shoes were taken to the adjoining towns of 
West Boylston, Oakdale, Holden, Grafton, Millbury 
and Auburn to have the bottom stock put on ; and 
then they were brought back and finished in the 
factories in Worcester. 

Since 1868 the quantity thus bottomed has steadily 
decreased. There was at one time a great prejudice 
among consumers against goods made b) machinery 
hand-made work being considered far superior, and 
for the first few years after the introduction of the 
pegging-machine, it was absolutely necessary that 
the manufacturer "sand ofl'" from the bottom of 
every boot the impressions made by the machine, for 
fear the boots might be rejected by the customer. 
To such an extent was this feeling carried, that as 
late as 1870 large quantities of goods were sold stamped 
" Warranted Hand-made," on which nearly the whole 
work was done by machinery. 

There is probably no industry where the improve- 
ment in manufacturing has been so radical and com- 
plete as in this. The only department where there 
has not been a great improvement is in that of the 
upper leather cutting and treeing. The cutting of 
upper leather is done by hand, and probably always 
will be. Treeing isdone substaiitially as it was when 
boots were first made, and, allliDUgh machines have 
been invented for doing this work, they have never 
been considered satisfactory. 

By the use of machinery in its present perfected 
state, goods can be produced that are more uniform 
than any that can be made by hand. A striking 
feature in the numufacture of boots and nhoes is the 
division of labor. As far back as 1810 all who called 
themselves sboemakeni were able to take leather in 
the side and complete a perfect boot or shoe. In these 
days, in the large factories an ordinary boot will go 
through the hands of fifty or sixty ditfcrent persons, 
the work in each room being minutely divided, and 
few of the men being skilled in any but their particu- 
lar part. This is one reason why boots and shoes are 
produced and sold so cheaply at the present time. 
Each man takes up that branch to which he is best 



58 



MANUFACTURES. 



adapted, and continual practice makes him an adept. 
The cost of labor on a case of twelve pairs of ordinary 
heavy boots, at the present time, is about five dol- 
lars. To produce the same number of boots by 
hand, by old methods, would take the wages of two 
weeks. 

The making of lasts, patterns and dies now used, 
has been so far reduced to a science that one can go 
into a first-class boot and shoe store and procure boots 
or shoes that will fit him perfectly. 

Worcester is practically what is called a boot town, 
comparatively few shoes being made, and the only 
factories to-day that devote themselves exclusively to 
the manufacture of women's, misses' and children's 
shoes are those of J. E. Wesson and the WaverlyShoe 
Company, which are now making what is called 
" Medium Grade " and " Weight Shoes." 

Heavy shoes, called "brogans," and plow-shoes are 
made, but these are considered about the same as 
boots, and are usually made in the same factories by 
the same workmen. Efl'orts have been made by 
various manufacturers to introduce men's fine shoes, 
which have partially succeeded, though not suffi- 
ciently to allow of Worcester being classed as a shoe 
town. 

In treating of the boot and shoe industry, it is not 
generally understood that the manufacture of boots 
and shoes is distinct. A workman is seldom found 
who can do equally well on each kind of work. The 
manufacture of ladies' fine shoes, such as are made 
in Haverhill and Lynn, has never been attempted 
here. In order to do this it would be necessary to 
obtain the help from those towns, and this has always 
been found unsatisfactory. Many attempts to make 
boots in shoe towns have foiled, and the fact is fully 
recognized. 

The manufacture of boots and shoes is now, and 
has been for years, one of the leading industri«s of 
Worcester, and has been uniformly successful. This 
is not due to the manufacturers alone. In most of 
the large boot and shoe towns the workmen are the 
unsettled population. In Worcester it is not so. 
Nearly all are permanent residents, a large number 
owning their homes, and, even in times of great busi- 
ness depression, few leave the city. To this fact must 
be largely attributed the absence of strikes. While 
other places have been visited with labor troubles, but 
two strikes of any consequence have been known here, 
one in 1807 and one in 1887. 

It is to the credit of employer and employes that 
they have considered their interests mutual, thus 
enabling the differences between them to be readily 
and satisfactorily adjusted. 

It is worthy of notice that, with scarcely an excep- 
tion, none of the present or past manufacturers of 
Worcester have had any educational advantages 
superior to those of the common school. They nearly 
all learned their trade at the bench, and to this, in a 
great measure, must be attributed their success. 



Being able to do any part of the work themselves, 
they are competent to judge if the work is properly 
done by others. They have proved themselves to be 
enterprising and worthy citizens, and have held a 
full share of the honorable positions in the gift of 
their fellow-townsmen. They have been represented 
in the directories of the various banks, in the Com- 
mon Council, Board of Aldermen, State Legislature, 
and will be represented in the Fifty-first United 
States Congress. ' 

The Bigelow Heeling-Machine. — This machine 
is an improvement upon the McKay machine, with 
which its interests are now identified. Mr. H. H. 
Bigelow patented the heel in 1869, and the machine 
in 1870. 

The advantages conferred by this machine are 
manifold. By means of it all the odd or " V "-shaped 
pieces of sole leather, which were formerly considered 
worthless, are utilized. These are joined or fitted 
closely together, under a solid upper lift, and fed to 
the machine, which consists of a revolving cylinder, 
making one revolution in four motions. First, the 
heel is pressed ; then, a quarter revolution and the 
heel is pricked for the nails ; then, another quarter 
revolution and the nails are driven ; with the final 
quarter revolution the completed heel is forced from 
the cylinder. 

The machine not only utilizes pieces of leather of 
every kind and shape, but takes all heels, whether 
whole, half or quarter lifts, and saves one good lift on 
each boot or shoe heel, since the leather which would 
otherwise be trimmed off is, by reason of the equal 
pressure upon the heel from all sides, evenly and 
smoothly forced into the heel, elevating it, and mak- 
ing a ditterence of one entire lift in height. A good 
lift is worth about two cents. 

The machine not only makes pieced heels, but all 
styles, heights, shapes and sizes, and is undoubtedly 
the moat valuable contribution that has been made 
to this industry, since while it effects the greatest 
saving it accomplishes the most laborious part of the 
work. With it, a man and boy can heel five thou- 
sand pairs of boots or shoes in a day, effecting a 
saving of the wages of forty-eight additional opera- 
tives per day. 

The amount of royalty upon a pair of boots or 
shoes is one-half of one cent, but by the saving of 
leather, and the saving of wages, the seller is not 
only able to dispose of his goods at a less price, but 
the durability of the boot or shoe is increased tenfold 
by means of this improvement in the method of man- 
ufacture. 

No boot or shoe manufacturer could carry on a 
large bu.siness successfully without the Bigelow Heel- 
ing-Machine, and the fact that he could not other- 
wise compete, proves conclusively that the purcha.«er 
is the person most largely benefited. 

* 1 am in<lebted to Mr. .1. H. Walker and Mr, F. W, Blacker for some 
of the material used Id the chapter upou Boots and Shoes. — C. G. W. 



WORCKSTKR. 



59 



A. H. Doan, in I8i))>, established the business of 
mannriicturing shoe-heels from upper leather rem- 
nants bought at the boot and shoe factories. He was 
ainon); the first in the country to enga);e in this occu- 
l>ation :i> a distinct business. Heels bail been niaile 
for till." inorit part of sole leather in shoe lactories. 
Most of this work is done by hand. The heel pieces 
are cut by dies. The business has so grown that there 
are now two hundred concerns in the country in this 
special line of work. P^roni twelve hands Mr. Dean's 
busines-s has grown into the employment of one hun- 
dred and tifty. 

In .March, 1861, T. K. Earle & Co. sold their belt 
manufacturing tools to Graton & Knight, a tiriu 
formed March 11, 1861, and composed of H. C. 
<iraton and Joseph A. Knight, located in Harding's 
Block, on Fnpnt Street. They started their tannery 
on the Hloomingdale Koad in 18ti7, and now put in 
about six hundreil hides per week. They use oak 
bark, which is ground in Virginia. The belling is 
taken in strips from the tannery to the Front Street 
shop, each hide atl'ording three strips suitable for this 
purpose. This is at i)resent the only tannery in the 
city. In the upper story of the Blooniingdalc Build- 
ing they manulacture inner-soles and slip-taps, and 
heels of all kinds, made from sole leather. In this 
way the shoulders and bellies are used. They also 
make sole-leather counters for boots and shoes, 
moulded an<l Hat counters of all kinds, straps for 
looms and pickers and for harvesting-machine.s. 
They started in Foster .'-ilreet with three hands, and 
at that time had a shop in Lynn : that branch of the 
bu.-iness was later removed to Worcester. They now 
employ ninety bands, and ship part of their product 
to Kngland. There are but four larger concerns in 
the belt busincA.'i in the country. 

H. n. Hudson i\c Co., successors to I'eler (ioulding, 
established in 1.S.j4, manufacture leather belting, 
nlbber belting, loom straps, etc. 

.1. F. i^ C. (i. Warren also luanufacture leather 
belting. 

Boot and shoe and belting machinery is made by 
.\. F. Stowe, on Cypress Street. 

H. ( '. I'eane i^ Co. and .John .1. .Xdanis also nianii- 
facture shoe machinery. 

Samuel Mawhinney, in company with Mr. A. P. 
l;ichards<in, commenced the manufacture of last* 
.lanuary I, 18o7, in .MerritieldV Buildijig. At that 
time the last.-* were turned out in the rough in 
Canada and tiiiislied in Worcester. In IWiH Mr. 
KicbardHon retired, and in 18«!» .Mr. Mawhinney 
bought land ou Church Street and built his present 
shop. About that lime Mr. K. L. (iolbert became a 
partner. The business has constantly increased, and 
now employs from twenty-five to thirty liamls. One 
hundred thousand pairs of lasts arc made annually. 
The material used is ris-k miiple. In addition to 
the last business, this company makes boot and shoe 
treen. 



1>IK .M AN'i'K.AcriiitKKs. — Mr. A. M. Howe began 
the die business in Westbnro' in the year 1S;')7, and 
moved to Worcester in LSctii. In 18<il he bad a con- 
tract from the (ioveriimeiit to make primers for giins. 
Mr. Howe makes boot and shoe, enveloiie and har- 
ness dies; in fact, cutting ilics of almost every de- 
scription. He formerly bought his die stock from the 
Goes', but now prepares it under a patented process 
of his own. 

Davis, Savells & Co. is the only other concern in 
the city which makes dies. They conimeiiccd business 
in 1870. Mr. Davis was formerly in the employ of 
A. M. llou,'. 



C H A 1' I !•: K IX. 

M AMl-ACTrKINC, AND M KCII AXICAI, INDUSTRIKS. 

I'uprr ^fnehinety — RiizorM — Holi/oLf Machiiif (Wni;i<iiif/ — .VoffoH Kmerff 
Whtfl CV>m/Mitiy — I'orttU — bkatf* — CKntrt — Ou* — MMt/raciip^ utid 
It'itl'lert — iSHKjmdr;/ "/ /ii(iiij«/ri>ii not herrto/nre mfittirmril. 

I'AfKl! Machi.vkky. — Isaac (ioddard whs born in 
South Koyalston, Vt., in 1800. He came to Massa- 
chusetts in 181 :i, and was apprenticed to Elijah Bur- 
bank at Quinsigamoiid to learn paper-making. After 
serving bis time, he went to Millbiiry, and about 
1K:;;{ ma<le paper there by the pound for (Jcneral 
Burbank. In I8;5(> he came to Worci'ster, formed a 
partnership with .Mr. Howe, ami. under the tirm- 
name of Howe & Goddard, began making paper 
machinery at the old Red Mills. It is said thai six 
months after starting they |>ul in a steam-engine of 
Mix horse-power. This they used for two years, in 
coninnction with their water-power. February I, 
184.'i, they moved to the Cnioii Street factory, now 
occupied by their successors. In the summer of 
184<i Mr. Howe died, and Mr. (leorge .M. Rice 
shortly after became a partner.' 

In .\pril, 18.">(;, (imldard. Rice \- Co. bought from 
Isaac Davis, for thirty-one Ihouiand dollars, the I'ac- 
tory occupied by them in Union Street. .April 1, 
18t)2, (ioddard, Rice & Co. dissolvcil, and May 1st 
(leorge M. Rice, (Jeorgc S. Barton and Joseph K. 
Falcs fornie<l a company for the manufacture of 
machinery under the style of Rice, Barton «V <!o. 
At this lime they ailvertiscd to make steam boilers, 
and in 18t'>.'t niaiiufarlured the \'aii<lewater Wiiler- 
wheel. 

The Kice, Barton Ai Fales .Machine and Iron Com- 
pany was organized in 1K4i7, and succeeded to the 
busineas of manufacturing paper-making, calico- 
printing and dyeing nmrbinery, prinling and dye- 
ing-machinrH fur cotton and woolen-mills, bleaching, 



1 IImifrv S. llaiion cmnw lo Wnrr4>«l4<r In lf)4^ : wni «|i|>rri)tlrml id 
How* k (iixMard, «n<l in IMu txcaoic • purlncr In Uotliinn), Hlcr A in. 



60 



JIANUFACTUKES. 



paper-printing machinery, hydraulic presses, archi- 
tectural iron anil other large work. 

Razors. — .J. R. Torrey it Co. maiiulacture razor 
strops and dressing-cases, and are situated at the cor- 
ner of Piedmont and Chandler Streets. The busi- 
ness was begun in a very small way in 1S58 by J. R. 
Torrey. In 1875 his son, I.,. H. Torrey, was admit- I 
ted to partnership. The business has increased until 
they have become the largest manufacturers of razor 
strops in the world. 

The J. R. Torrey Razor t/ompany was incorporated [ 
in 1880 — Joseph Turner, i)resident, and J. R. Tor- 
rey, treasurer. The present factory was erected in 
1882. 

This is the only company manufacturing razors in 
the country. Commencing with eight hands, their 
force to-day, ISS'.l, pumbers seventy-live razor-makers, 
with more special tools and machines of their own 
invention than are found in all the razor factories in 
the world. 

The Hoia'oke Machine Company. — This com- 
pany was established at Holyoke in 1863. In 1882 a 
branch factory was built at Worcester, situated oppo- 
site the old Wheeler Foundry on Thomas Street. 
This company manufactures the Hercules Turbine 
Water-Wheel. One-fourth of their product is sold 
abroad. They commenced with fifty men and now 
employ one hundred and fifty. They also manufac- 
ture .shafting, hangers and pulleys. 

NoKTON Kmery-Wiii;i:t, Comi'any. — This com- 
pany was organized June 20, 1885. The industry was 
started in 1875 by F. B. Norton at the old Pottery 
Works in Water Street, from whom the wheel takes 
it.s name. The pottery business is still conducted by 
Mr. Norton's sons in Water Street. 

In July, 188(), the Norton Emery-Wheel Company 
began the erection of new works at Barber's Crossing, 
about three miles from the centre of the city, at the 
junction of the Boston and Maine and Fitchburg 
Kailroails. The building was finished and occupied 
about .lanuary 1, 1^87, and is more complete and 
thoroughly equipped than any other manufactory of 
emery-wheels in the world. The method of produc- 
ing solid emery-wheels by this company is known 
as the vitrified process and is covered by three 
patents. The wheels possess great strength and en- 
durance, are thoroughly water-proof, containing no 
substance that has not abrasive ])n)perties which en- 
sures their fast-cutting qualities. The best Turkish 
emery ore and pure corundum are used. During the 
process the wheel is subjected to a white heat, for 
which purpose the Lawton Patent Down-Draft Kilns 
are used. 

These wheels are used for all descriptions of light 
and heavy casting-work, car-wheel grinding, cleaning 
hollow-ware, pearling barley, cleaning wheat and cot- 
ton seed, wood pulp, grinding, planing and surfacing 
work, cutlery work, concaving razors and other uses 
too numerous to mention. 



Brown & Sharpe Manufacturing Company of Provi- 
dence, R. I., has succeeded in producing remarkable 
results with these wheels in the direction of fine 
grinding. 

CoRtiETS. — In the year IStil Air. D. H. Fanning 
finding that hoopskirts were becoming popular, se- 
cured a small room in what was then Clark's Block, 
situated at the corner of Main and Mechanic Streets, 
and with one operative began their manufacture. 

The product of this small establishment found a 
ready sale. He continued the manufacture of hoop- 
skirts exclusively until the year 1864, when the manu- 
facture of corsets was introduced into this country 
and Mr. F'anning added this industry. 

The plant was enlarged to meet the increasing de- 
mands made upon it. In 1872 the business was re- 
moved to the Rice building, 564 Main Street. The 
manufacture of corsets proved the more imiiortaut part, 
and at length the manufacture of skirts was discon- 
tinued. The name of the firm, at first the Worcester 
Skirt Company, was changed to the Worcester Corset 
Company, which was afterwards made the corporate 
name of the present organization. 

The business continued to develop, and subsequently 
a section of the Franklin building, adjoining, was 
added. In 1880 the Hey wood building, located in 
the rear of the Rice building, was added to the other 
two. The plant now includes these three buildings 
with a tioor area of fifty thousand square feet. 

The sewing-machines used are of the Singer make. 
The old machines were run at a speed of from four 
hundred to six hundred stitches per minute, while 
those now in use have a capacity of from fourteen 
hundred to eighteen hundred stitches per minute. 

In 1885, finding the market for its products reaching 
over a constantly increasing area, at length covering 
the entire country, the Worcester Corset Company 
established branch sales-rooms in Chicago, ill., the 
great distributing point for the West and Northwest, 
and also opened an office in New York City. 

Within the past year the company has entered ex- 
tensively into the manufacture of fine goods in which 
silks, [wngccs, satins, French cotilles and American 
jeans are used. 

By engaging in the manufacture of fine goods, the 
company gives employment to an increased number 
of skilled workmen of the highest class. These goods 
are of the same grade and come into competition with 
the finest quality of French and German corsets ; and 
there is no concern in the country engaged in this 
business so thoroughly equipped for the production of 
fine goods as the Worcester Corset Company. 

In size it ranks among the largest producers in the 
country of all grades of corsets, and probably the 
largest in the production of fine goods. Five hundred 
operatives, mostly women, are employed in this estab- 
lishment. 

The Park Corset Works, in Front Street, was estab- 
lished in 1868, and incorporated in 1885. 



WOKCKSTKK. 



fil 



III 1 "i'ltj t>. t '. >V . J?. Wiiisliin, wliii liuil been cngngod 
ill nieclianical business at Nen'tmi I'pper I'ulls, occu- 
pied 11 small room in Cypress Street, in Merrifield's 
building, doing machine jobbing. 

Ill IS.'i", observing that skating was becoming popu- 
lar, they ventured to make tweuty-tive pairs of skates, 
of which they soM nineteen pair during tlic first 
year. 

Ill I80S, in aalicipatinii of the demand, they niaiiii- 
factured two hundred pairs, but before the end of the 
year had manufactured and sold two thousand Hve 
hundred pairs. 

Seth ('. Wiiislow ilieil in ISTI, and bis interest was 
purchased by Samuel W'inslow. 

lu 1872 Mr. Wiiislow made roller-skates for .J. L. 
Plympton, of New York, which were used in this 
country, and e.xported to Europe and to India, and 
cootiiiue<l to manufacture them for soveral years; 
meantime the business bad so increased that a factory 
was built in Mulberry Street. 

In IS-SO Mr. Wiiislow invented the Vineyard roller- 
-kate, which has been the most popular roller-skate 
made. The demand in this country for roller-skates 
continued till the fall of 1K8.5. 

During the year 1SX4 Mr. Winslow built an addition 
to his factory. In IsSi! he sold his business to the 
Sitmuel Winslow .Skate Manufacturing Company. 

At the present lime, 188'.t, the demand for roller- 
skates in the United States has ceased, but the com- 
pany is exporting them to .\ustralia, 1 ndia, .lapan and 
South .Vmerica. 

The capacity of the company is twelve hundred 
pairs of skates per day, including forty ditlerent styles 
of ice-skates and fifteen different stylcji of roller- 
skates, which vary in price from fifteen cents to ten 
dollars per pair. 

This company al.so manufactures an excellent 
bicycle, which is sold at a moderate price, and which 
is finding a ready market for the reason that it is as 
durable as the more e.xpensive machine. 

Foi.Dixii Chairs.— In 1863, Mr. K. W. Vaill, who 
bad previously been in the furniture business, en- 
gaged ill the inaniifactiire of camp-chairs, which 
were in large demand by the army ami navy. The 
busiiieMS was begun at the corner of Main 1'^ Walnut 
Street!*, but in January, 1877, was moved to I'nion 
Street, the ]iresent location. The idd water-wheel, 
whii'h furnished power for Knggles, Nourse <fe Maaoii, 
at t'ourt Mills, supplies twenty-eight horse-power for 
this fsctory. 

At the close of the war the ileiiiaiid lor camp-chairs 
largely decreased, but the principle whs carried into 
all variety of chairs, from the plainest to the nioiit 
expensive. < >ver one hundred different styles were 
iiiaile, many of which were patented, and they were 
sent all over the world. Febrilan,' .'), I8S!I, the K. W. 
Vaill Chair Manufuctiiring Company was incor|>or- 
horated and succce<led tii the biisiiifss. 
The Worcester Gas- Light Company was orgaiiiited 



June 22, 1K40, with a capital of ^.'(,(1(10. John W. 
Lincoln was president, and Warren La/.ell, agent. 

The works wore built iu Lincoln Street, and, under 
date of July 2:{, 1S4',I, the company gives notice in 
the Worcester Spij that the works will be ready to 
suj'ply gas to the citizens of Worcester in the follow- 
ing streets, early the next fall, vi/. : .Main Street, from 
Lincoln S<]uare to Park Street School, Thomas' Ex- 
change, Foster and .Mechanic Streets, severally, 
between Main and the railroads; also in Front from 
.Main Street to Washington J^qnare, and in Pleasant 
Street fnun Main to Chestnut Streets. 

Those desirous of becoming consumers of gas were 
reipiested to give early notice at the oftice of the 
agent, 20/) Main Street, in order that supply-pipes 
might be carried into their buildings, the pipes to be 
put in at the expense of the company. 

The company w:is incorporated in I80I ; the works 
were enlarged I'toni lime to time, and in 1S70 were 
removed to the present site near the Jniiclion. 

The present estimated capacity of the works per 
day is 750,00(1 cubic feet. Gas made during the year 
ending June 1, 1888, 100,724,500 cubic feet; greatest 
output December 24, 1887, 5ol,30(( cubic feet; least 
output, June 17, 1888, 112,i;(K) cubic feet ; total length 
of street mains, 201,050 feet ; total number of meters 
in use June, 1888, :{,882. 

The manufacture of water-gas was introduced in 
October, 1884, the company having purchased a 
license under the patents of the (rrangcr Water-tJas 
Company, of Philailelpbia. 

CoXTRAiTORs .VXD Hiii.DKits. — There is a large 
number of contractors and builders in Worcester, 
some of whom have attained a wide reputation for 
the character of their work. The wood-work in some 
of the most expensive houses in the country has 
been furnished by Worcester firms. 
' Charles liaker it Co. make a specialty of intiide 
, and outside ornamental finish from architcct.s' plans. 
! The Norcroas Bros, stand pre-eminent among biiild- 
( ers in Worcester, and their reputation has now become 
national. They own stone i|iiarrie« at Long Meadow 
and have shops eipiipped to produce every kiml and 
variety of work re<|uired in the most elaborate build- 
ings. 
I The Norcross Bros, began business at Swampscolt, 
! Mass., in 18(14, and 18fifi took their first contract of 
I any consequence, which was to build the Congrega- 
I tional Church in Leicester. 

I ."^ince that time they have built educational struc- 
tures, business blocks, churches, public buildiiig><, 
: club-lioiiHes and private residences. 

.\moii^ the buildings erecteil by them arc the Wor- 
cester High School, Crompton'i) Block, Burnside 
Building, .Ml Saints' Church, the First llniversalist 
Chiirch, all of Worcester. 

Their most expeimive buildings hav<' been erected 

elsewhere. The gyinnnHium, Seaver Mall and the 

' Law School at Harvard University ; the .Marshal 



62 



MANUFACTURES. 



Field Building, at Chicago, erected in 1885 at a cost 
of $900,000 ; the New York Life Insurance Building, 
at Omaha, costing over $500,000 ; another building 
for the same insurance company in Kansas City, 
costing a like amount; the Allegheny Court-house 
and jail, at Pittsburgh, costing §2,500,000; the Union 
League Club-house, New York ; the Algonquin Club- 
house, Boston ; besides many private residences, the 
most expeusive of whicli Is " Kellogg Terrace,'' 
Crreat Barrlngton, which cost $()Ofi,000. 

It has not been attempted to give an extended ac- 
count of all the manufactories in Worcester; space 
and time would not permit of this. The following 
alphabetical summary of most of those not hitherto 
mentioned in the text will give some idea of their 
variety and number : 

Agricui.tihal Macuinury. — B. F. Goddard, 
mowing-machines, 105 Front Street. 

Awls. — American Awl Company, 195 Front Street, 
manufacturers of and dealers in raw-hide mallets, wax 
thread needles, lasting-machine awls, wax thread 
awls, Bigelow heeling awls, Bigelow heeling drivers. 
New Era drivers. New Era pegging awls, Varney peg- 
ging awls, Varney drivers, German pegging drivers, 
German pegging awls, shoe-knives, shoe-shaves. 

J. McCarty, 19 Church Street, proprietor National 
Awl Company; established 1878; machine awls for 
peggi ng-machi nes. 

Sumner Packard & Co., of Grafton, made the firsl 
machine awls for boot and shoe-pegging machines. 

Band-Saws.— W. F. Burgess & Co., (56 School 
Street. 

Bicycles. — Iver Johnson & Co. ; Samuel Winslow. 

Bolt Maxufactukers. — In 1828 Wheelock & 
Rice manufactured nuts and washers at the machine- 
shop then recently occupied by William Hovey. 

In 1839 H. W. Jliller was engaged in this business. 

In 1855 Thomas Smith and William Conkey bought 
of J. and J. C. Brown and (ieorge Dryden their tools 
and interest in the manufacture of nuts and washers, 
chain links, etc., and filled up a shop in Cypress 
Street, Merrifield's building. In 1859 they employed 
four hands making patent bit pieces and doing cold 
punching. Mr. Smith has been an iron-worker in 
Worcester for fifty-three years ; he made the first die 
in the world to make a mowing-machine knife. He 
now manufactures bolts, nuts, rods, building irons for 
houses, bridges, cold iron punching. In 1835 Mr. 
Smith worked for Phelps i*i Bickford, ia Grove Street, 
and worked on the first looms built for William 
Crompton in this country. 

J. Fred. Wilson, cold punched nut-', wa.shers, chain 
links, etc. 

Boot and Shok Lasts. — Porter & Gardner, Foster 
Street. 

Boot and Shoe Machinery. — John J. Adams, 
85 Mechanic Street. 

Box-Makers, (wood and paper).— Baker & Co., 
Foster Street; C. F. Darling, 66 Foster Street; J. W. 



Howe, 163 Union Street. C. W. Humphrey, 42 South- 
bridge Street, turns out from five thousand to six 
thousand paper boxes per day. The Whitcomb En- 
velope Company also make paper boxes. 

Brewer.s. — There was a brewery in Worcester in 
1822. Sixty-two and one-half cents a bushel was paid 
for barley delivered at the brewery. In 1827 the 
Worcester Distillery offersfor sale New England rum, 
molasses, cider brandy, high wines. 

Bowler Brothers, Quinsigamond Aveuue, corner 
Lafayette Street, established the business of brewing 
ale and porter in 1883. They pay a larger tax to the 
United States (Jovernment than any one outside ot 
Boston. 

Brooms. — O. M. Dean, 170 Austin Street. 

Brushes. — Ellis Thayer manufiictured brushes in 
Worcester in 1849. In 18(19 the firm became Thayer 
& Mason; in 1878 Mr. J. Fred. Mason became pro- 
prietor. He manufactures brushes of all descrip- 
tions. 

Carders' Tools. — William H. Brown, 81 Me- 
chanic Street, Lewis' patent card clamps, card 
ratchets, hammers, gauges, tools, scrapers, Kiinball's 
patent card stretcher. 

CLrpriN(;-MArHiNEs. — Coates' Clipper Manufac- 
turing Company, 237 Chandler Street. 

Copying-Pre.sses. — R. E. Kidder, 35 Hermon 
Street. Also manufactures patent Universal Sewing- 
Machine. 

Cotton.— H. W. Smith, Wachusett Mills, fine 
dress ginghams. 

Court-Plaster.— C. B. Bobbins, 70 Portland 
Street. 

CiTRRlERs. — P. Corriveau, 32 Hermon Street. 

William Leonard, 2 Sargent Street. 

CfRTAiN Poles and Rings. — Worcester .Mould- 
ing Works, Foster Street. 

Dental Instruments. — C. B. R. Claflin, 38 F"ront 
Street. 

Die Cutter Stock. — Loring Coes & Co., manu- 
facturers of machine knives, cutter plate for dies to 
leather, cloth and paper ; moulding cutter-plate for 
wood, marble, etc.; all kinds and sizes of shear plates, 
and strips for cotton and woolen machinei/. 

L. Hardy &Co., manufacturers of machine knive.s, 
straight cutter ensilage, lawn-mower, meat-cutter, 
cork-cutter, rag-cutter and bone knives; shear-blades 
and strips for cotton and woolen goods. Also die 
cutter stock lor boots and shoes; all kinds of welded 
stock rolled to any thickness from fourteen gauge to 
three-quarter inch thick. Wood-working machine- 
knives, planers, moulding-knives and blanks ; paper- 
cutting, leather-splitting and stripping-knives. 

Doors, S.vsh, Blinds, &f. — Charles Baker & Co., 
wholesale and retail lumber dealers; manufacture 
doors, windows, blinds, window and door frames, in- 
side and outside ornamental finish from architects' 
plans. Y'ardn at Manchester, Grove and Prescolt 
Streets. 



WORCESTER. 



G3 



A. W. Joslyn, 181 Union Street. 

George Peirce, .'530 Park Avenue. 

D. & C. P. Stevens & Co., 24 Southbridge Street. 

Rice & Grilfin M;iiiufacturing Co., Sargent Street 

Willinni Ross, 13>! Main Street. 

Ohain" Pll'K. — James Draper, drain sewerand well 
pipe, Bloomingilalf. 

.•V. B. Lovell, cement pijie. 

S. E. Todd, Soiithl>riilge Street. 

Drili. M.wiTKAcruRERs. — Six in number, some of 
whom have already been mentioned. 

George Burnham v^- Co., l.'p HernKin Street, im- 
proved upright drills. 

K. W. Long, .successor to (Jeorge ('. Tafl, No. 8 
Harris Court, improved upright self-feed drills. 

I.«well Wrench Company. Ratchet drills, ratchet 
wrenches. 

Prentice Bros., 49 Hermon Street. Upright drills. 

DroI" FoRiiIXiis.— Worcester Drop Forging Works, 
No. .W Bradley Street, t^uick-action vises; shuttle 
irons. 

Drv Pi.atk MASirFACTrRER.i. — Plifcnix I'late 
Company, manufacturers of Pha-nix gelatine dry- 
plate, argentic plate for positive pictures, ebonized 
and maroon wood and metal panels ; also japanned 
iron and tinned sheets of all sizes for painters and 
lithographers. 

Dye-Hou-SRs.— In 1828 William B. Fox did dyeiiiL' 
of all kinds. 

,Iohn H. Starkie, Layard Place. 

Worcester Silk Co., 390 Afain Street. 

Worcester Bleach and Dye Works, dyers and 
bleadiera of cotton, woolen and worsted yarns, 
threads, tapes, et*. Also black, white and fancy col- 
ored warps in chains and beams furnished to order in 
any desired |)attern. Present location. Grove Street. 
After April I, ls8;'t. West PVemont Street, New Wor- 
cester. 

F;ave Tkouoiis. — A. Bangs it Co., 175 Union 
Street. 

K1.EVAT0R.S, HviiRAri.lc — Washburn Shop, Poly- 
technic Institute. 

Hydraulic Manufacturing Co., 23 Hermon Street. 

Worcester Klevat<ir Co., 47 Lagrange Street. 

Fai'ckts — Worcester Faucet and .Manufacturing 
Co. Self-closing faucet. 

Ferrules. — Worcester Ferrule Manufacturing 
Co., manufacturers of steel and brass stove trimmings, 
patent nickel-|)lnt«d knobs, hinge-pins, towel-racks, 
foot-rails, steel, iron and brass ferrules, nickel-plated 
steam-pipe collars, 17 Herm'in Street. 

,lohn L. Parker A ('o., manufacturers of patent 
seamless sheet-metal goods of every description, stove 
door-knolw, hinge-pins, towel-rods, 70 School Street. 

Fll.K,^. — William Hart, .'» Washington Sipiare; m- 
tablished lH(;7,no\v employs seventeen hands. Largest 
manufacturer of haml-cut files in .New England. A 
large number of files from the manufactories in the 
city are here re-cut. .Mr. Hart makes four hundred 



dill'erent shapes and sizes of files, and has a branch 
shop at Holyoke. 

A. J. Hiscox. 

FisuiXG-RoK.s. — N. S. Harrington, 72 Portland 
Street. 

Framic.< loR Pictures.— G. S. Boutelle & Co., 
successors to Worcester Moulding Works. Also, 
picture-frame easels, fancy tables, etc. 

Friction Purj.EY.s.— Blake Bros., manufacturers 
of the patent friction clutch, shafting, hangers and 
special machinery, Union Street. 

(il.ui:. — .John J. .lert'erds, manufacturer of glue, 
tallow, ground bone, fertilizei-s. Works half a mile 
.south of Quinsigamond, on Providence and Worcester 
Railroad. 

Grindinu Machinery. — B. S. Roy, for curd 
grinding. 

Washburn Shops, for emery wheels. 

• jRisr-Mii.i.s.- D. & C. P. Stevens & Son. 

(iRouxK Beef Scraps.— Charles F. Rugg, manu- 
facturer of line cylinder, engine, machinery and bolt 
oils. Best grade steam-rendered fallow and soap for 
manufacturers and family use. Dealer in paratfine, 
lard and neat's-foot oils. Pure ground beef scraps. 

Gutters and Conih-ctors.- A. Bangs & Co., 17.'> 
Union Street, manufacturers of eaves troughs, iSic. 

J. li. Cuinmings, 197 Union Street. 

Hardware Masupacturers.— A. W. GIHord, 77 
Beacon Street 

Hill Dryer Co., 21 Hermon Street. 

A. .McDonald, 418 Main Street. 

Morgan Spring Co., 2') Lincoln Street. 

Wire Goods Co., 20 Union Street. 

Heei, Ma.siiacturers.- E. I). Barrows & Son, 
195 Front Street. 

E. N. Dean, 194 Front Street. 

A. D. Hall, ItU Front Street. 

G. S. Hatch, lt)4 Front Street. 

Myrick, Shepard & Co. 

Hosiery. — Holland Hosiery Company, 194 Front 
Street. 

Ink.— Levi R. Rockwood, 23 Orient Street. 

Loo.M Reicds. — For cotton, woolen, carpet and 
wire cloth mills, .lolin Wliittaker, 194 Front Street. 

Mll.K Ca.ns. — .lames H. Whittle, manufacture of 
tin cylinders of all diameters. 

MouLi>iN<i-MAcniNE.s. — Blake Brothers. 

Withcrby, Rugg & Richardson. 

Naii.s.— Soiners. Brothers. Tacks ami llungariaii 
nails. Shoe tacks a specialty. Located here because 
of the large amount of boot-making, liunning sev- 
enteen machines. The only concern of the kind in the 
city. Uses tiK'k-machines invented by Thomas 
Blanchard. 

\i;eii|.i>. — Worcester Needle Company, Sewing 
mai'hine iiec<lles. In 1.S53, F. S. ('ox made needles 
at South Worcester. 

tJVKRAI.I.s. A. G. Ilildrelh, -H Southlpridge 
Street. 



64 



MANUFACTURES. 



Peeforated Metals. — Towne & Company, 81 
Mechanic Street. 

Pottery. — F. B. Norton's Sons, Water Street. In 
1784 tliere was a pottery in Worcester, two and a 
half miles from the meeting-house on the roail to 
Springfield. 

Roller Skates. — The Samuel Winslow Skate 
Manufacturing Company. Ice and roller skates ; gear 
cutting. 

Saw Manufactory.— E. D. Cunningham, 2S 
Hudson Street. 

Shafting.— Holyoke Machine Company. 

Tapes. — H. M. Witter & Company, Park Avenue. 

Trunks— Barnard Brothers, 494 Main Street. 

George L. Barr, 20 Front Street. 

Valentines. — BiiUaid Art Publishing Company 
Main Street. 

J. W. Taft, :i5 Pearl Street. 

George C. Wiiitney, Art Publisher and Importer ; 
factory and main oHice, Worcester; also offices New 
York, Chicago and Boston. 

Vises. — Worcester Drop Forging Work. 

Washers.— Keed & Prince, makers of rivets, 
blanks for suuill screws, washers. 

Water Meter. — In 18r)S a water meter was in 
vented by Dr. K. D. Welherbee, and manufactured 
by D. Newton, gunsmith. Union Water Meter Com- 
pany was established November, 18()8, by Messrs. 
Fitts, John (,!. Otis, Pliineas I?all ; employs si.xty 
hands. Their meters go all over the country, and 
some to England and Germany. The product is cov- 
ered by patents. 

Yarns. — The Edgeworth Mill, cariiet yarns, Brus- 
sels Street. 

Artificial stone is manufactured l)y C. F. Green t^ 
Company, Sargent Street. 'I'he stone is made of sand 
and cemcTit, and is used for building purposes; chim- 
ney caps, thimbles, etc. This is a continuation of the 
business known as the Frear Stone Works. 

E. J. Kerns manufactures a patent rowlock; also 
roller seats for boats. Some of these have been sent 
to foreign countries. 



CHAI'TEIl \. 

MANUKACTURINC. AM> MI'XHANICAI, INDl'STRIKS. 

Reuacns for Wurceater^K Proviinmtce as n Mtutii/artiimig Cilij—lii'Om with 
Power for Itait—Mcrrifietd BHiUti»i}—}tfinv*'0<i liniMing— Eiitnhvok 
litiUdiug—KtiUrprue of W'orcefter'n Ihtaimnit Men— Hferhttnicf^ -tsso 
ciali^'it— Worcester Pohjtuhmc Imtit\ae~n\ishhurn Shopa—Tlie Lnltor- 
ing CloMea— Kvetiiiig Schooh — M'orr^al^r' s ItoiiUt tlrowtU — Itttirt of 
Ote OommotiwritUh. 

It has fre<|uently been said that Worcester owes 
her prominence as a manufacturing centre to the 
unusual opportunities offered to mechanics to begin 
business in a small way, and witbout incurring (he 



risk incident upon the erection and equipment of a 
shop. Indeed, had this not been the case, individ- 
uals, companies and corporations doing to-day a pros- 
perous business would never have started. Many 
instances might be given of individuals who have 
begun with one machine, gradually increasing their 
business out of the profits realized from day to day, 
until it has reached considerable magnitude. Growth 
of this kind is healthy and likely to be permanent. 

It would be almost literally true to say that there 
is no large manufacturing business in Worcester that 
has not at some time in its history been situated in 
one or another of the buildings erected for rent with 
power to a number of tenants. There are some ex- 
ceptions, but they are few. An idea of the number 
of industries begun in this way may be obtained by 
noticing the occupants of the buildings erected f<ir 
the accommodation of those engaging in mechanical 
pursuits. 

The old (!ourt Mill had been built some years 
when, in 1832, Samuel Davis leased it from Mr. Salis- 
bury. Among the tenants here at one time or an- 
other were L. it A. G. Coes, builders of woolen - 
spinning machinery, and subsequently, manufactur- 
ers of wrenches ; Ruggles, Nourse & Ma-son, manu- 
facturers of agricultural implements; H. W. Miller, 
punching-machines for manufacturing nuts and 
washers; Thomas E. DanieU, builder of the planing- 
machine; Samuel Flagg, pioneer in the machinists' 
tools business in Worcester. The old building was 
burned in October, 1839, aiul Mr. Salisbury made 
a contract with W. T. Merrifield to rebuild the mill 
by January 1, 1840, for Ruggles, Nourse & Mason 
threatened to move out of town unless it were fin- 
ished by that time. After the foundations were in^ 
.Mr. Salisbury thought the building could not be 
completed in the winter, and otlered to release Mr. 
Morrifiebl from the contract, but Mr. Merrifield went 
ahead, although Worcester masons refused to lay 
brick in the winter, and he was compelled to bring 
masons from Boston to do the work. The building 
wa.s completed by .January 1st. 

Then came the Dr. Heywood building in Central 
Street, occupied by a number of firms, among them 
Samuel Flagg & Company and S. C. Coombs & Com- 
pany, who established the business now conducted 
by the Lathe it Morse Tool Company. Mr. Merrifield 
occupied his present location in 1835; soon after be 
\ised a horse to furnish power to run a circular saw 
and a Daniels [ilaner. Iti 1840 he put in an engine. 
The first brick building for tenants was erected in 
1847, and additions were made to it every year until 
the fire of 1854, when the following were among the 
occupants: William R. Bliss, bootmaker; Town & 
("onipany, perforated board ; Hovey & Lazell, straw- 
cutters; E. F. Dixon, wrenches; Lamb it Foster, 
carpenters; Williams, Rich & Company, machinists; 
Samuel Flagg & Company, machinists' tools; Prouty 
it Allen, .shoe tacks; Daniel Tainter, wool niachin- 



WOKCKSTKR. 



G5 



ery ; C. Hovey & Company, straw-cutters ; C. Whit- 
comb & C"i)iu|.i!iny, macliinistji' tools; Charles E. 
Wilder, boot iimJ sluie-iiiachiiies ; H. Palmer iV: Com- 
pany, box-maker; Towiie iS: Harriiij:;tou, portemon- 
iiaies ; N. 15. Jeweit, seraphine-maker ; Thayer, 
Houghton \ Company, machinists' tools; Furbush 
i^ Croinpton, fancy looms ; Richards & .Smith, sash 
ami blinds ; Luther White, machinist ; F. J. (iouche, 
plane-maker; Isaac Fiske, musical instruments; A. 
Sampson, wheelwright ; >"?. (i. Reed, wheelwright ; 
Worcester Knitting Company ; Worcester Machine 
Company ; (ieorge Dryden, machinist ; Hood, Battell 
it Company, sewing-machines; Edward Lawrence, 
tool-maker; Oaniel Palmer, box-maker; Howard 
Holden, grist-mill ; Rodney A. >L .luliniinn it Com- 
pany, wool-spinning machinery. 

NVhen rebuilt, the buililings measured over eleven 
hundred feet in length, fifty feet in width, and 
three stories in height ; the area of the floors was 
over four acres and a half; the power wius obtained 
from a three hundred and tifty horse-power engine, 
the same which is running to-day. In LSo'.t .Mr. 
.\[errifield bad leased rooms and power in his buildings 
to over fitly firms, each employing from two to eighty 
hands. Among them : — 

Al/.irus Brown, on the corner of Union and Ex- 
change .Streets, who, with fifty hands, engaged in the 
manufacture of Manny's Patent .'Mower and Reaper 
combined. Uaniel Tainter, in I'nion .Street, employed 
thirty hands in making woolen-carding m.ichines and 
jacks. Johnson & Co. employed twenty hands making 
jacks for woolen machinery. Richardson it Maw- 
hinney, in the same .street, emi)loyed twenty-four 
hands on lasts and boot-trees. L. W. Pond (iccui)ied 
about two liundre<l feet of the first lloor, under the 
preceding, for the manufacture of engine-lathes, 
planing-machine-s, etc., employing twenty-seven hands. 
He had a lathe thirty-seven feet long, capable of 
cutting screws of any length from one to thirty-three 
feet. He alsfi used the largest and heaviest planing- 
machine in the city, thirty-.seven feet long, six feet 
wide and four feet high, weighing forty tons. 

I'routy & Allen, in the room north of A[r. Pond, 
employed from five to six hands in making iron or 
zinc sh'ie-nails, of which they tnrnnl otl' from one 
thousanr] to twidve hundred pounds [lerilay. ISattelle 
it Co., in the thiril story, had five hands engaged in 
the manufacture of sewing-machines. .1. L. it I. N. 
Keyes, on the cast side of Union Htreet, did an exten- 
sive business, with eighteen hands, in board-planing. 
Hamilton Holt, in rooms over them, had four hamls 
engageil in making pat<:nt gutters, or conductors of 
water from the riKifs of buildings. C Whitcomb .t 
Co. were doing a goo<l business making machlniHts' 
tools and letter-copying presses, ami employed fifteen 
hands. Townc it Harrington, with ten hands, nuide 
mowing-machine knives. [)resscr it Wilsun had 
about six hands making .lill.son's patent niiinud-traps, 
manufacturing two hundred per day. S. (i. Reed it 



Co., in Cypress Street, employed twenty hands in 
making carriage-wheels and wheel-spokes of all 
kinds. 

(ieorge F. Rice, employed ten hands in the manu- 
facture of Hovey 's patent hay-cutters, corn-shellers 
and winnowing-mills, and a very superior article of 
boring-machine of his own invention, .loel W. 
Upham had from six to eight hands engaged in mak- 
ing very large water-wheels for manufacturing estab- 
lishments, averaging from twenty to thirty per year. 
Isaac Fiske employed six hands making musical wind 
in.struments. D. D. Allen & Co. manufactureil boot 
forms. .S. C. & S. Winslow employed from six to 
twelve hands in gear-cutting and light jobbing. 
Thomas Smith it Co. had four hands making patent 
bit-pieces and iloing cold pnnchini;. The Machine 
Lathe Company in Exchange Street, of which Jason 
Chapin was president and A. L. Burbank treasurer, 
employed seven hands making bedstead lathes and in 
iron job-work. Charles E. Staples, with seven hands, 
made bit-stocks and winilow-sprlngs and did light 
jobbing. Charles E. Wilder had a few hands in the 
manufacture of boot-crimping machines. Franklin 
We.s,son had three hands in the gun manufacture. P. 
(xoulding with .six hands, on the opposite side of the 
street, made thirty dozen of shuttles per week. U. T. 
and C. H. .'suiilli made ihair-lathes and did jobbing, 
employing four hands. William H. Hmwii had a 
jobbing shoj) with three or more hands. 

Meantime Colonel Jamas Estabrook and Charles 
Wood, in 18.31, erected the stone building at the .Junc- 
tion now occupied by the Kuowles' Ix)om Works. 
Wood, Light .V Co. were to occupy part of it, which 
they did, and the rest of the building was to be renti-il 
to tenants. Shc|)ard, Lathe & Co. moved into the 
north end of the building very shortly after the occu- 
pancy of Wood, Light it Co. In \S!>7 Mr. Wood 
disposed of his interest to Colonel Estabrook. 

The main building was fiuir hundrcil and lilly feet 
long by fifty feet wi<le, and three stories high ; an- 
other building used for a forge shop atui other work, 
two hundred by forty ; power wiut furnished by two 
fifty horse-power engines, nuide by Corliss it Night- 
ingale, of Providence. Among the tenants were 
Wood, Light it Co., who occupied the two lower 
stories in the south end of the main building for the 
manufacture of machinists' tools, water-wheels, mill 
works, castings. .1. A. Fay & Co. occupied a hunilred 
feet on the second lloor, manufacturing wood-working 
machinery, employing thirty hands, .loseph Barrett 
it Co., in the south end of the .second lloor, employe<l 
twenty hands in the maiiufiiiturc of caliioprinting 
machinery, Woodworth's planiiig-machincs. niachin- 
Ists' tools, etc. .Shepnrd, Lathe it .Morse occupied one 
hundred feet of the first floor under the preceding, and 
manufiicturcd engine-lathes and iron-planing ma- 
chines. Whittemore Brothi-rs, in the upper story, 
employed twenty hanils in manufiicluriiig machines 
for paring, coring an<l slicing apples. The American 



66 



MANUFACTUPvES. 



Steam Music Company manufactured calliopes and | 
terpsichoreans. Haywood & March made Uolbrook's 
automatic bank-locks. David McFarland made card- 
setting machines. A. F. Henshaw manufactured ma- 
chinists' tools and bonnet machinery. 

The means thus alforded to individuals with limited 
capital to begin nianutacturing unencumbered with 
an expensive plant, making it possible for a small 
business to be conducted with profit, is one of the 
chief causes of the diversity of industries which 
makes Worcester uniformly prosperous, and creates a 
thrifty and permanent class of working-people. 

In striking contrast are some other New England 
cities, confined almost entirely to a single industry, and 
with a large unsettled population of mill operatives, 
the business conducted by corporations, owned by 
non-resident stockholders and under a non-resident 
management. With such conditions, the prosperity of 
the community is uncertain, largely a matter of 
chance. In good years the dividends declared are 
not invested where they are earned, while in bad 
years the immediate community suffers, want soon | 
overtakes the working-people, and crime follows in 
the wake of cold and hunger. 

It is true that there are corporations in Worcester, 
but they are, almost without exception, the out- 
growth of individual enterprise; the stockholders 
are residents, and in many cases, employes ; the divi- 
dends are largely invested in real estate, in business 
blocks, in tenements, in factory property, while the 
fortunes accumulated found our hospitals, homes for 
the aged and infirm, build our churches, endow our 
schools. 

While there are few large fortunes here, there are 
many small ones. There is, perhaps, less of luxury 
and display than in some communities, but more of 
thrift. 

To properly take advantage of the opportunities 
here offered, an intelligent people was needed. Enter- 
prise and sagacity have always been characteristics 
of the business-men of Worcester — early manifested 
in appreciation of communication with the sea-board, 
and secured by the building of the Blackstone Canal, 
and evidenced later in the building of the railroads, 
and always recognized in the high reputation enjoyed 
throughout the country by our manufactures. 

But there is better evidence than this of the wis- 
dom and foresight of the men who laid the founda- 
tion of Worcester's prosperity. 

A desire for opportunities for education was numi- 
fest at a very early day. About 181!) a number of 
young mechanics, who had been active in reforming 
the schools and establishing a lyceum and temper- 
ance society, made an attempt to form a mechanics' 
association. This failed; but November 27, 1841, a 
public meeting was held to consider the question. 
Ichabod Washburn was chairman, and Albert Tol- 
man secretary of this meeting. A committee was 
chosen, consisting of Anthony Chase, William Leg- 



gatt, Henry W. Miller, William M. Bickford, Put- 
nam W. Taft, Levi A. Dowley, William A. Wheeler, 
Rufus D. Dunbar, John P. Kettell, James S. Wood- 
worth, Albert Tolman, Hiram Gorham, Joseph Pratt, 
Henry (ioulding and Edward B. Rice, to consider 
the formation of an association having for its object 
"the moral, intellectual and social improvement of 
its members, the perfection of the mechanic arts 
and the pecuniary assistance of the needy." 

The first meeting of the subscribers was held Feb- 
ruary 5, 1842. William A. Wheeler was elected 
president; Ichabod Washburn, vice-president; Albert 
Tolman, secretary, and Elbridge G. Partridge treas- 
urer. Steps were taken to establish a library and an 
annual course of lectures. The first lecture wa.s de- 
livered by Elihu Burritt (then a resident of Worces- 
ter), and was upon the importance of educating the 
mechanics and workingmen of the country. From 
that time to the present the Mechanics' Association 
has provided a course of lectures every winter. 

Another object in forming the association was the 

I holding of an annual fair for the exhibition of the 
mechanical products of the city. The first fair was 
held in September, 1848, and was very successful. 
The reports of the judges were printed and widely 
circulated, creating a wide knowledge and conse- 
quently large demand for the products of Worcester 
mechanics. In July, 1854, in commenting upon the 
association and its work, the statement was made : 
" Notwithstanding the inadequate supply of water- 
power, which is everywhere deemed so essential for 
the successful development of the mechanic arts, 
without the aid of a single act of incorporation, 
mechanical husine.ss has increased in this city by 
individual enterprise alone more than tenfold. The 
mechanics as a class are more enlightened and better 
educated than formerly; their course is onward and 
upward; they are not only increasing in numbers, 
but continually expanding in influence and useful- 
ness. Instead of being a small fraction of the popu- 
lation of a town of two or three thousand, as they 

I once were, they are nearly a majority of the popula- 
tion of a city of twenty-two thousand; are the owners 
of nearly or quite half of the taxable real estate, and 
are producing from their workshops more than six 
millions ol' dollars annually. Their reputation for 
variety, excellence and finish on all labor-saving 
machines and implements extends far and wide 
through the land. Their products, branded with the 
name of some enterprising firm in Worcester, may 
be found in the shops, mills and factories and on the 
farms of every State in the Union." 

In 18.30 an act of incorporation was obtained from 
the State, and May 4, 1S54, Ichabod Washburn offered 

I to give ten thousand dollars towards the purchase of 
land and the erection of a Mechanics' Hall, provided 
an equal sum should be rai.sed by the association. 
The offer wius accepted and the condition complied 
with. In addition to the twenty thousand dollars 



WORCEi^TER. 



thus raised, the association issued bonds to the amount 
of fifty thousand dolhirs, secured by mortgage upon 
the property, and t'urtlier sums were raised iis tlie 
work advanced, of which amount nearly forty-four 
thousand dollars was taken and paid for by two hun- 
dred and fifty-six members of the association. 
■ ■round was broken .luly, 1&">5, and on the 3d of Sep- 
tend)er the corner-stone was hiid, the day being ob- 
served lus a holiday. The building was com|>)eted in 
IH.IT, and was dedicated March U'th oftliat year. 

.■\notlier and .strikln-; illustration of the interest 
taken by the manufacturers and mechanics of Wor- 
cester in educational aftairs is found in their gener- 
ous contributions toward the building and endow- 
ment fund of the Worcester I'lilyteclitiic Institute, a 
schi>i>l free to residents of Worcester County. 

The founder, .lohii Boynton, of Tenipleton, pro- 
vided that the school should be located in Worcester, 
if theciti/.ens would furnish the fiinds necessary to pur- 
cluisea lot and erect suitable buildings. This condition 
was complied with, and among the contributors were 
workmen in twenty of the then (L'SIkS) largest shops 
and factories. 

.\t the .same time Ichabod Washburn built, eiiuip- 
ped and endowed a machine-shop, connected with 
the institute, in which students were to be taught the 
[practical nianipulation of tools. This conception of 
a school-.shop is unique. The maximum number 
planned for by the founder to be instructed at atiy 
one time was twenty. For the psist live years over one 
hundred pupils have received instruction ejich year. 

.Meanticne the schools of the city have increased in 
number and efficiency. No child, however poor, need 
be deprived of a thorough education, free of any cost 
for instruction, and in the public schoids being even 
relieved of the expense of buying books. 

Up to 1840 manual labor in our shops was, for the 
most part, performed by Americans. Worcester 
naturally attracted boys from the country, and the 
farmers' sons became our mechanics. 

.\bout this time Irish emigration commenced and, 
as the heavier kin<is of manufacture were inlroduce<l, 
the I rishnian became an important factor in our indus- 
trial development and indispensable to our material 
progress. 

Since 1884^1 a large Scandinavian population has 
been added to Worcester, probably not less than n'lx 
thousand or seven thousanil men, women and chil- 
dren, of which about three thousanil are men and 
boys. They arc thrifty, ln<lustrious, capable and law- 
uliiding people, who have come to make this country 
their home. They are found in most of our shops and 
are employed exclusively in some of them. They 
support live ihurches, in whicli their own language is 
spoken. Their children atteml the public scIi'mjIs; in 
1887 the number of children was live hundred and 
seventy-four. 

Another element in our population Is the Arnie- 
iiiun. There are at the present time about four hun- 



dred .\rmenian8 in Worcester, the larger number 
I'rom the province of Harpoot. Very few of them 
have had any mechanical training, having been en- 
gaged, in their own country, in agricultural pursuits, 
either as peasant farmers or as laborers lor farmers. 
This occupation aflbrds scarcely more than a bare 
subsistence, the wages being from twenty cents to 
thirty cents per day. Some of the Armenians intend 
remaining here and are gathering their families 
about them. Two-thirds of those now here have been 
assisted in their emigration by the earlier third. None 
of the .\rmenians would contemplate a permanent 
return to their own country, if assured of work. They 
are timidly cautious, and do not wish to send for their 
families until they have earned the means to sustain 
them for an extended time. They are convinced 
that a knowledge of the English language is essential 
and are anxious to improve their opportunities for 
ac(piiring it. 

The evening schools are invaluable in giving our 
large foreign adult population an opportunity to ae- 
ipiire sufficient education to become useful and intel- 
ligent citizens. An examination of the records shows 
that out of (JiU who attended the evening schools 
during the past year (1888), 1(35 were Irish, 155 Ar- 
menians, 153 Scandinavians, 111 French, 45 English, 
31 American, 14 Poles, l:i (lermans, 3 Mexican, I 
Scotch, 1 Portuguese. 

These schools are maintained at acost for each pupil 
of ??ll.(i8 for the year. 

It is an interesting fact that no Scandinavian has 
ever made application to attend evening school who 
could not write his name. 

At the evening drawing-schools opportunity is 
allbrded to learn free-hand drawing and drafting, of 
which our intelligent mechanics are i|uick to avail 
themselves. The average attendance during the year 
1888 was one hundred and thirty-nine. 

According to the census of 1885, there were seven 
hundred and seventy-two establishments engaged in 
manufacturing and inechanlcal imlustries in the city 
of Worcester ; the total capital invested, $1S,344,408; 
value of stock used in a year, ^'I ">,01(i,75(i ; total value 
of goods made and work done, ?!:28,0;il),524, the difler- 
ent industries standing in the following onlcr: — 
Metallic goods, other than inui ; boots, shoes and 
slippers; iron goods; wood ami metal goods; building 
material for building anil stone-work; textiles; food 
preparations; miscellaneous clothing and straw 
g(M)ds ; woolen goods ; paper and paper goods ; 
leather; printing and publishing; paints, colors, oils 
and chemicals. 

.lune '■'•(), 1885, there were employeil in manufactur- 
ing and mechanical industries |l!,.'iGl) peojile -13,413 
males, 3153 females— of which i;475 were under twenty- 
one, and H.D'.M twenty one atid over; 10,512 ol these 
work by the day, and li<»54 by the piece. 

'I'lie total amount paid in wages in the census year 
was ?'7,l)(;it,755. 



68 



MANUFACTURES. 



Worcester has developed from a country town to a 
large manutacturing city in less than sixty years. 
The population in lS;iO waa a little over four thousand, 
and to-day is probably eighty thousand. 

Within that time the steam-engine, the railroad, 
telegraph and telephone have enormously increased 
the productive |)o\ver of labor. The improvement in 
the condition of the laboring cla-sses is no less 
marked ; contrary to the opinion once held, the in- 
troduction of labor-saving machinery has advanced 
instead of lowering wages; has reduced, instead ol 
extending the hours of labor. The laborer receives 
a constantly-increasing proportion, the capitalist .1 
constantly-decreasing proportion in the division of 
gains. Many of our mechanics own their homes, and 
are naturally deeply interested in the welfare of the 
city. Avenues for advancement are always open to the 



capable and industrious. From their ranks will come 
the leading business men of the next generation, 
upon whom the continuance of prosperity will 
depend. 

It is worthy of note that the causes of Worcester's 
prosperity are found within and not without. No 
abnormal conditions have prevailed, a change in 
which can bring disaster. No Government works or 
patronage of any kind have contributed to her ad- 
vancement. We need not fear the natural advan- 
tages of other sections of the country, for there must 
always be conducted here the manufacture of the 
finer gi'ade of goods, requiring intelligent and delicate 
manipulation. As we review the past and forecast 
the future, we can but feel that Worcester is worthy 
of her civic seal, — The Heart of the Com.mox- 

WEAI.TH. 



H 46 '78"^ 



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